Frequently Asked Questions

The Oklahoma Charter Schools Act was enacted to encourage the creation of public charter schools with the purpose of improving student learning, increasing learning opportunities for students, encouraging the use of different and innovative teaching methods, providing academic choices for families, to require and create innovative measurements of learning, establish new forms of student accountability, and create new professional development opportunities for teachers. Charter schools are public schools established to allow greater flexibility in exchange for greater accountability. They operate under a performance contract, specifically a charter contract, with the authorization or sponsorship of a qualified public entity. While freed from some of the regulations created for traditional public schools, charter schools are held accountable for the operational, financial, and academic responsibilities of all Oklahoma public schools.

Virtual charter schools are Oklahoma public schools where the primary means of instruction is through online delivery and communication. To become a statewide virtual charter school in Oklahoma, the school must be authorized or sponsored by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, created through enabling legislation passed in 2012.

The purpose of the Board is to serve as the sole authority to authorize and sponsor statewide virtual charter schools in the State of Oklahoma.

In 2015, Oklahoma legislators passed Statute 70-1-111, which guarantees students access to supplemental, online courses. As a result, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (SVCSB) was appointed to certify online courses, contract for a fair state price, and inform the public about available online courses. Additionally, Statute 70-1210.704 requires that the SVCSB maintain an online learning platform to provide high quality online learning opportunities for Oklahoma students. Horizon: Digitally Enhanced Campus was created to fulfill all these mandates.

For more information about Horizon: Digitally Enhanced Campus, visit horizon.ok.gov.

Oklahoma legislation created the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in 2012. Five voting members, each representing one of the five Oklahoma Congressional Districts, compose the Board. One member is appointed by the Governor and is a resident and elector of the Fifth Congressional District. Two members are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and represent the First and Third Congressional Districts. Two members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and represent the Second and Fourth Congressional Districts. In addition, two ex-officio nonvoting members, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of State and Education, are a part of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

Subject to the requirements of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act (Oklahoma Statute 70-3-130), the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board has four powers and duties defined specifically in 70-3-145.3:

1. Provide oversight of the operations of statewide virtual charter schools;
2. Establish a procedure for accepting, approving and disapproving statewide virtual charter school applications and a process for renewal or revocation of approved charter school contracts which minimally meet the procedures set forth in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act;
3. Make publicly available a list of supplemental online courses, of high quality options and aligned with the subject matter standards adopted by the State Board of Education; and
4. Negotiate and enter into contracts with supplemental online course providers to offer a state rate price to school districts for supplemental online courses that have been reviewed and certified by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

Additionally, Oklahoma Statute 70-1210.704 C states that the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board shall maintain an online learning platform to provide high quality online learning opportunities for Oklahoma students that are aligned with the subject matter standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 11-103.6 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The Board shall implement online courses, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses, foreign language courses and advanced placement courses. The online platform shall be available to all Oklahoma school districts.

Horizon: Digitally Enhanced Campus was created to fulfill all these mandates.

The Board has authorized a number of virtual charter schools serving a range of grade levels, including prekindergarten through twelfth grade students. The names and contact information for each of these schools can be found on our Virtual Schools page.

All schools authorized by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board are Oklahoma public schools and are accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. These virtual charter schools have the same rights and responsibilities of other public schools in the State of Oklahoma.

A virtual charter school applicant must follow the process and timeline adopted by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to become an approved virtual charter school. Guidance for the authorization process can be found on our Authorization page.

Central to the accountability of the virtual charter schools sponsored by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (SVCSB) is the charter contract between the virtual charter school's governing board and the SVCSB, its sponsor. The expectations of the school are defined through the application and contract process.

In addition to the responsibilities of the charter contract between the school’s governing board and the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, sponsored schools are public schools and subject to all laws and regulations and to the reporting expectations of the State Department of Education, including financial accountability and accreditation requirements.

Virtual charter schools are also accountable to its own governing bodies. The expectation of each school governing body is that its members will maintain high performance standards for the school and take corrective action as needed. The governing board’s responsibility is to serve the families and students served by the school.

Families choose enrollment in a virtual charter school for a variety of reasons. In a spring 2015 survey, families reported health and wellness, school safety, personal student goals, and family involvement as primary reasons for selecting a virtual charter school as their education choice.

The SVCSB commissioned more detailed research conducted by and external organization in 2017, surveyed families about their reasons for enrolling, and the benefits and challenges of Oklahoma's virtual charter schools. The full report is available on our Resources page.

Research supports the ideal that digital technologies offer opportunities for improved learning and opportunities for increased active involvement in learning experiences. It is clear that full-time virtual schooling is a good fit and valuable opportunity for some students, but that is not necessarily true for every student. For academic success in a full-time online education environment, the following two factors should be present.

• Full-time online education requires a high capacity for independent and motivated learning without the daily face-to-face guidance of teachers or the social environment that traditional schools offer. To be successful, the student must have a strong work ethic and the motivation needed to work consistently and independently.
• Full-time online education most often requires a high degree of home support and parental involvement for student success. A parent, or other responsible adult, must provide daily supervision to ensure the education benefit for the student. Without this type of supportive environment, enrollment in a more traditional school may offer a better fit.

Virtual charter schools sponsored by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board are public schools and funded through the Oklahoma State Department of Education based on student enrollment. Some exceptions, such as transportation and nutrition funding, apply to school funding calculations. Virtual charter schools are eligible for federal funds but do not receive local funding and do not have bonding capacity.