On Thursday, the United States Supreme Court announced a 4-4 deadlock in a significant case concerning the establishment of the first religious charter school in the country. The case centered on a proposed Catholic charter school in Oklahoma. Because the Supreme Court was evenly divided, it did not issue a majority opinion, which means the previous ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court stands. That ruling found the proposed religious charter school to be unconstitutional under state law. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, and the case raised questions about the separation of church and state, as well as the use of public funds for religious education. The Supreme Court’s deadlock does not set a national precedent but leaves the Oklahoma decision in place, effectively blocking the creation of the religious charter school in that state. The issue could return to the courts in the future if similar cases arise elsewhere.