PRESS RELEASE: DFER Welcomes Outcome in St. Isidore v. Drummond, Avoiding Nationwide Disruption to Charter Laws and Student Access

Supreme Court Preserves Public Status of Charter Schools in Split Ruling

DFER Welcomes Outcome in St. Isidore v. Drummond, Avoiding Nationwide Disruption to Charter Laws and Student Access

(May 22, 2025, New York, NY) — Today, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s split decision in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond, Democrats for Education Reform CEO Jorge Elorza released the following statement, applauding the outcome as a key step in preserving stability for families and reaffirming the public status of charter schools:

“The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond is welcome news for our education system and the four million students who rely on high-quality charter schools across the nation.

While the Court’s decision was split 4–4, the result affirms that charter schools are indeed public schools. 

A ruling in the opposite direction could have thrown charter laws into disarray nationwide, forcing states to revisit statutes, inviting legal confusion, and ultimately disrupting learning for millions of students and families. Thankfully, that chaos has been averted for now.

Because the court’s decision was split, it does not set a legal precedent and the Court released no opinions or reasoning for either side of the argument. There may be future challenges, which means that we must all stay vigilant. We must continue to protect what works and stand up for children. Charter schools are delivering results for students, particularly in communities that have been underserved for far too long. Our focus should remain on expanding access, ensuring quality, and keeping students at the center of every conversation.”

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