Drummond challenges board over incomplete Jewish charter school rejection

State Attorney General's Office investigating Statewide Charter School Board's handling of Ben Gamla application

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:34am

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The Statewide Charter School Board has denied a second application for the proposed Jewish charter school Ben Gamla, but now the board is facing scrutiny from the State Attorney General's Office over an allegedly incomplete rejection letter.

Why it matters

The Ben Gamla charter school proposal has been a contentious issue, with concerns raised about potential religious bias in the application review process. The Attorney General's investigation could shed light on the board's decision-making and transparency around the rejection.

The details

According to reports, the Statewide Charter School Board denied Ben Gamla's application, but Drummond, the school's founder, has challenged the board, claiming the rejection letter was incomplete and lacked key details about the reasons for the denial. The State Attorney General's Office is now investigating the board's handling of the application.

  • The Statewide Charter School Board denied Ben Gamla's application for a second time in March 2026.
  • Drummond challenged the board over the incomplete rejection letter shortly after the denial.

The players

Drummond

The founder of the proposed Jewish charter school Ben Gamla, who is challenging the Statewide Charter School Board's handling of the school's application.

Statewide Charter School Board

The state-level board responsible for reviewing and approving charter school applications in Oklahoma, which has denied Ben Gamla's application twice.

State Attorney General's Office

The state government agency that is now investigating the Statewide Charter School Board's decision-making and transparency around the Ben Gamla charter school application.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure that the charter school application process is fair and transparent for all applicants, regardless of their religious affiliation or background.”

— Drummond, Founder, Ben Gamla Charter School

What’s next

The State Attorney General's Office is expected to release the findings of its investigation into the Statewide Charter School Board's handling of the Ben Gamla application in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around the role of religion in public education and the need for charter school oversight bodies to maintain impartiality and transparency in their decision-making processes.