OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is promoting a new virtual education option for families across the state: the American Virtual Academy (AVA). Branded as a conservative alternative to traditional public schools, AVA touts a back-to-basics curriculum and a flexible, fully online K–12 platform. But behind the glossy promotional materials and patriotic rhetoric lies a trail of academic underperformance, ideological controversy, and financial scrutiny.
Yesterday on the social media platform X, Walters framed AVA as a solution to what he sees as a public education system mired in “woke ideology.”
I’m very excited to announce today that Oklahoma will be one of the first states to approve the American Virtual Academy, a new private school for the students of Oklahoma. We have full school choice here; we have tax credits available. We want parents to choose the school of their choice. We will continue to lead the country in school choice. And the American Virtual Academy, we love their mission statement. They’re about promoting patriotism and American values to our kids. That’s what the parents of Oklahoma want. So we’re excited to provide this opportunity for parents. We will continue to fight back against a woke liberal agenda in our schools by providing parents with school choice and accountability. We’re gonna get back to the basics here in Oklahoma. We’re very proud to partner with American Virtual Academy to make it available for all the students and parents of Oklahoma.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction
The program’s website emphasizes instruction rooted in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” with a curriculum that explicitly rejects Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and transgender-related content. Walters’ endorsement of AVA is consistent with his broader agenda, which includes implementing Bible-based curriculum, promoting PragerU videos in classrooms, and challenging topics related to race, gender, and civil rights in school settings.
Critics Question Academic Performance and Financial Motives Behind Walters-Backed Virtual School
Yet the program Walters is advocating for is operated by Primavera Online School, an Arizona-based charter school network that has faced significant challenges in its home state.
In March 2025, the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools moved to revoke Primavera’s charter, citing three consecutive years of poor academic performance. According to the Arizona Department of Education, just 23% of students at Primavera scored proficient in English Language Arts, and only 9% were proficient in math as of the 2024 school year. These results placed the school in the “D” category for overall performance, triggering intervention by the state.
“Oh boy. This school, which is also known as Primavera, seems like a nasty little can of worms. It’s currently in the process of being shut down in Arizona after the founder funneled $24mm to himself while students were showing abysmal academic performance,” Clifton Adcock, a reporter from The Frontier, wrote on his personal X account yesterday.
In June 2025, the board voted unanimously to formally revoke the charter, affecting over 20,000 enrolled students.
Meanwhile, Primavera and its private partner, American Virtual Academy, have expanded into multiple states and now market their services nationwide. The school offers over 200 online courses and advertises flexible enrollment options for full-time, part-time, and credit recovery students.
The school has also drawn attention for its financial practices. Damian Creamer, the founder of Primavera, earned $8.8 million in compensation in a single year, according to a 2015 report. The organization also reportedly held a $36 million investment portfolio. Critics have raised concerns that funding intended for student instruction may be diverted to administrative salaries and private business interests.
Religious Mandates and Revised Standards Spark Legal and Parental Pushback in Oklahoma
For Oklahoma families, the rollout of AVA under Walters’ leadership raises additional questions. Walters has faced mounting criticism over his leadership of the State Department of Education. This includes allegations of financial mismanagement, strained relationships with local school districts, and lawsuits over the implementation of religious content in public schools. A recent federal lawsuit challenges the legality of mandated Bible instruction and other religious elements Walters has introduced into state education standards.
In addition to his support for AVA, Walters spearheaded the adoption of new social studies standards that require students to study “discrepancies” in the 2020 presidential election. These standards, according to documents released by the State Department of Education, remove or minimize references to recent civil rights events such as the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. Parents and educators have expressed concern about the politicization of the curriculum and the lack of clarity regarding opt-out policies for families who disagree with the content.
The ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and other civil liberties organizations have filed multiple lawsuits against Walters and the Oklahoma Department of Education, arguing that his policies violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
As AVA Launches in Oklahoma, Questions Linger About Outcomes, Oversight, and Ideological Influence
Still, Walters continues to promote AVA as a viable choice for parents seeking alternatives to public education. In the public statement, he has emphasized the importance of promoting “American values” in schools and giving families more control over their children’s education.
But as AVA seeks to expand its footprint in Oklahoma, advocates are urging families to closely examine the program’s track record. Key concerns include persistent academic underperformance in its home state, limited transparency in financial operations, and a curriculum that may reflect a narrow ideological perspective.
For now, American Virtual Academy is enrolling students in Oklahoma, with promotional materials highlighting scholarships and flexible scheduling. The program may appeal to families with non-traditional needs. These include student-athletes or those seeking religious instruction. It remains unclear whether AVA’s implementation in Oklahoma will improve outcomes. It could also deepen divisions within the state’s education system.
As the debate over the future of public education intensifies, AVA’s success or failure in Oklahoma could serve as a case study in the risks and rewards of outsourcing state-supported education to ideologically-driven virtual platforms.