The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has decided to get in on the virtual learning action with a new partnership with the American Virtual Academy. This partnership was made public recently, marking Oklahoma as one of the first states to make such a move. The online school, American Virtual Academy, focuses on what they describe as American principles and takes a stand against what it labels as a 'liberal agenda' in current education. The announcement of the partnership was made on OSDE's official website yesterday.
Superintendent Ryan Walters was outspoken about the new initiative, expressing concerns about left-wing influences in education. "Left-wing indoctrination in schools poses a serious threat to our students, and parents deserve more options for their kids," he said, as reported by OSDE. The partnership is evidently also motivated by a desire to combat what the OSDE perceives as 'far Left teachers unions' and 'woke educators'.
An additional perk that is expected to materialize for parents is the Parental Choice Tax Credit. This initiative seeks to make educational options more financially accessible, theoretically allowing parents to put their tax dollars toward the type of education they prefer for their children. "We are thrilled to work with OSDE to provide Oklahoma parents with a pro-American, patriotic education for their children," Tracy Harelson, Executive Director of Verano Learning Partners / Corporate Partner for AVA, told OSDE in an announcement.
