The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that could clear the way for publicly funded religious charter schools.

Our John Yang has more.

Jeff, in 23, the Oklahoma Charter School Board approved the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school.

But the state Supreme Court blocked it, saying it violated the Oklahoma Constitution's

bar on using state money for religious education. The head of the state charter school board

told the News Hour that St. Isidore would benefit Oklahoma.

We have an educational crisis, and my opinion is that we need everybody toore would benefit Oklahoma. We have an educational crisis.

And my opinion is that we need everybody to join in and help.

And I'm hopeful that we will be able to enlist those who are very capable, just like

St. Isidore, to come to the table and say, hey, let's get the job done and provide better

outcomes for the families of Oklahoma and the children of our future.

But Erica Wright, the founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition, said religious education has no place in public schools.

We have two kids in public school right now, and we chose to send them there because we want them to get a quality

secular education while our family and our trusted pastors guide their religious education.

NewsHour Supreme Court analyst, Marcia Coyle was in the courtroom for the arguments today.

Marcia, the courtroom was a little different than usual.

There were only eight justices on the bench.

Why is that?

Well, John, that's because Justice Barrett decided to step aside from this case.

Now, she didn't give any particular reason for that.

In fact, she never does.

But it's sort of assumed that it's because St. Isidore, the Catholic school

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