The case, a major test of the separation of church and state, was an unexpected loss for those advocating a greater role for religion in public life.

A deadlocked U.S. Supreme Court Thursday effectively upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to bar overtly religious public charter schools. The 4-4 decision, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett recusing herself,

The Supreme Court's deadlock vote has halted the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma, drawing mixed reactions from religious leaders and opponents.