Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy allows students to learn at their own pace
Aug 20, 2025
TULSA. Okla. — Students with Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) have to follow a curriculum, but they can learn at their own pace. So if they want to finish quicker and skip grades, they can.
OVCA is a virtual charter school in Oklahoma. Students take online classes with real teachers who meet with them and grade their work.
Erin Goodridge, the middle school principal, explains parents have a bigger hand in their child’s education with virtual learning. They have to be responsible for keeping their kid on track.
Goodridge says often times kids graduate a few grades earlier from OVCA.
“If a students is wanting to work ahead they can we have a couple of students now who are completing one course in a semester so they can advance to 8th grade in January.” says Goodridge.
Goodridge says one reason they see students switch to virtual learning is because of safety. Often times students have experienced bullying or are worried about the safety of public schools.
FOX23 also learned how virtual schooling can work with students who miss class often, don’t understand the assignment, get sick, have chronic illnesses, or whose parents move or travel a lot for work.
Jordan Jensen, a middle school English teacher with OVCA, says she feels more connected to her students now that she teaches virtually. Jensen has seen it benefit a lot of students who may have other things going on at home that takes their attention.
“Virtually there’s two different ways to do attendance,” says Jensen. “You can attend the live virtual class if someone’s sick. In a brick and mortar school, you miss that lesson. Here, students have the opportunity to watch the recording, so not only are they still getting the content, they can still participate. They can answer polls and chat and I get those notifications.”
While class may be virtual, they still have opportunities for socialization. They hold weekly events for students to get to know each other in person if they want.
OVCA has year long enrollment and if you want more information or to look at enrollment, you can find it here.