Walters defends partnership with Arizona-based online school that's under scrutiny

Oklahoma State Board of Education members are asking state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters why they wouldn’t be consulted about the state Education Department partnering with an Arizona-based private online school whose operators have come under scrutiny in their home state.

During the board's monthly meeting on Thursday, July 24, Walters touted the agreement between the agency he leads and the American Virtual Academy. Walters said he was excited to partner with a new private school "focused on promoting patriotism and American values.”

Other board members met Walters' optimism with questions about the school's poor track record in Arizona, which it lists on its website as its home base.

A charter school run by American Virtual Academy, known as Primavera, has been targeted for closure by the Arizona Charter Board, according to reporting by Phoenix television station KPNX. The board noted the school received "D" letter grades for its academic performance for three consecutive years. The board’s decision is being appealed.

On social media, the school’s founder, Damian Creamer, said the process of revoking the board’s charter “will be overturned due to a correction of the record that Primavera was a performing alternative school during 2024.”

Creamer said separately on social media that American Virtual Academy's new agreement with Oklahoma was a "huge win."

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters is pictured July 24 at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting in the Oliver Hodge Building.

Walters said Tuesday, July 22, when he announced the agreement, that American Virtual Academy is seeking approval to participate in Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program.

But a change in that program made by the Legislature in 2024 appears to make only private schools in Oklahoma eligible for funds from that program. Walters said during the July 24 meeting that the school has an Oklahoma address. The Oklahoma secretary of state’s website does not list an “American Virtual Academy” or a “Primavera” as registered to do business in Oklahoma.

Emily Haxton, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Tax Commission, said that agency has not received an application from American Virtual Academy to participate in the Parental Choice Tax Credit Program.

“The OTC cannot determine a school’s eligibility to participate in the program until all required information has been submitted,” she said.

In 2022, the now-disbanded Statewide Virtual Charter School Board rejected an application from an organization known as Verano Learning Partners, which was led by Creamer. The organization wanted to open an online charter school in Oklahoma.

Since American Virtual Academy is seeking to operate as a private school instead of a charter school, it would not fall under the purview of the Statewide Charter School Board, which replaced the virtual charter school board.

People in attendance react to Ryan Walters at the July 24 Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting.

Two state Board of Education members — Zachary Archer, of Hammon, and Sarah Lepak, of Claremore — did not attend the meeting, but the four other members who did attend all pressed Walters about the agreement between the agency and the school.

Member Ryan Deatherage, of Kingfisher, asked about news reports concerning American Virtual Academy’s situation with the Arizona Charter Board and asked if that conversation should be held by the Oklahoma board.

Walters replied that “a lot of the press has got this blatantly wrong” and said American Virtual Academy is a private school and “a different school with a different mission.”

Deatherage asked if the partnership would be brought before the board, to which Walters replied, “No, sir.” Deatherage then asked for a legal reason why the partnership wasn’t brought before the board before Walters announced it. Chad Kutmas, an attorney for the board, said, “That’s something that I would have to research” in order to provide that answer.

Becky Carson, of Edmond, the board’s newest member, asked if there were an Oklahoma-based school that might offer the same service, saying she was “very pro-buy local.”

Walters replied with a political shot at Gov. Kevin Stitt — with whom he’s having an ongoing political feud — by noting the four board members present all were appointed by Stitt and suggesting they have a conversation with the governor about school choice.

Carson again asked her question, and Walters said, “That’s up for a parent to decide. They’re going to have options. Again, if a local, private school wants to provide these opportunities educationally, then great. That’s what we want to continue to encourage.”

Multiple public schools offer free online instruction in Oklahoma, the largest being Epic Charter Schools, with more than 25,000 students.

Board member Chris Van Denhende at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting in the Oliver Hodge Building.

Board member Chris Van Denhende, of Tulsa, asked if the partnership between the agency and American Virtual Academy involved any financial commitment by the state of Oklahoma. Walters said it would only be through the Parental Choice Tax Credit. In response to a question from board member Michael Tinney, of Norman, Walters said he wasn’t aware if American Virtual Academy paid any money for recognition from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.