Homeschool means more freedom and flexibility to let learning follow your child. In Oklahoma, a lot of families have already decided the public school system isn’t a good fit for their kiddo. According to research reported in Newsweek, Oklahoma has one of the highest homeschooling rates in the country.
But learning at home doesn’t have to mean you’re taking on teacher duty five days a week. You can follow a homeschool curriculum if you want to teach your child yourself, or you can enroll them in an accredited online school led by experienced teachers. Accredited online options are a natural choice for families who want learning to happen at home but don’t have the time or skills to manage it themselves.
If that’s the case for your family, here are seven Oklahoma homeschool options to check out.
If you’re in Oklahoma, you can either take on homeschooling independently, which means taking full responsibility for teaching. Or you can opt for an accredited online school, where kiddos learn:
Both asynchronous and live options can meet Oklahoma’s legal homeschooling requirements, but the day-to-day learning experience for both you and your kiddo can look very different.
If you’re exploring online schools, accreditation is one of the most important things to check. Programs recognized by organizations like Cognia or state-approved charter schools align with recognized academic standards. bina is internationally accredited by Cognia and Cambridge, so kiddos in Oklahoma, other states, and other countries can enroll and learn together.
Once you’ve shortlisted some accredited programs, think about the learning experience itself. The right choice comes down to what’s best for your family.
Unlike many other states, Oklahoma governs online schooling at the state level rather than leaving it up to individual districts. So there are fewer virtual programs overall when compared to other states.
As a public charter school, the Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVKA) is accredited by Cognia. It follows Oklahoma’s statewide academic standards and curriculum, so all coursework and grading meet recognized requirements.
Kiddos are supported from elementary right through to high school by certified Oklahoma teachers for progress monitoring. Older students can take advantage of AP courses. OVCA also offers additional support as needed through special services or programs for accelerated learners.
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As Oklahoma’s largest statewide virtual charter school, Epic Charter Schools serves approximately 30,000 learners across 77 counties. Authorized by the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, Epic offers flexible learning pathways where students can select courses according to their personal interests and goals.
Depending on your family’s situation, you can also choose the Comet Program, which provides limited in-person instruction.
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E-School Virtual Charter Academy is authorized by the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and is fully accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. It offers statewide access to online public school learning, where students can learn online and submit schoolwork and assignments for feedback from certified teachers.
The school encourages parents to be part of their kiddo’s learning journey as part of the “learning team” alongside the teacher.
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Tulsa Virtual Academy is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and follows the state’s academic and graduation requirements. Offered through Tulsa Public Schools, the school provides learners with coursework and feedback through platforms like Edgenuity and Canvas.
Between asynchronous coursework and targeted, individual tuition, Tulsa Virtual Academy aims to give learners the opportunity to fully participate in their learning journey outside of traditional brick-and-mortar school environments.
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Families don’t have to rely on state-run programs to access accredited homeschooling or online learning options. Many online schools are fully accredited and offer the opportunity to learn with students all over the country or even across the globe.
bina is a full-time online primary school accredited by Cognia and Cambridge. As a full-time school, bina takes the pressure off of families by providing a structured, teacher-led virtual environment for your kiddo to learn every day.
Learners attend live virtual classes five days per week in small groups and also work through guided offline activities. The internationally-aligned curriculum gives kiddos the opportunity to learn in a global virtual classroom that builds academic confidence, digital skills, and social-emotional learning skills.
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Connections Academy is accredited by Cognia and aligns with statewide Oklahoma academic standards. As a public online school, it is tuition-free apart from costs for normal school supplies.
The virtual setting offers flexible, asynchronous learning through assigned coursework, with feedback and tutoring provided by certified teachers. It’s also notable for its extensive learner enrichment programs, like online school clubs and esports. Parents are expected to spend up to five hours a day and act as their child’s Learning Coach.
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Dove Virtual Academy is an online charter school authorized by the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board and accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The school provides flexible online learning so students can learn at their own pace with a heavy focus on STEM education.
Learners can access individualized learning pathways and select courses within their interests, provided they continue meeting state requirements for graduation. Kiddos also benefit from a strong emphasis on personal development and a focus on real-world skills like social-emotional learning.
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Since Oklahoma is a homeschool-friendly state, families have lots of options when it comes to learning at home. Once you’ve chosen the right accredited homeschool option for your situation, you can start by enrolling your kiddo and formally withdrawing them from their current school (if needed). One thing to remember is you’ll typically need a strong and reliable internet connection for your kiddo to learn online, and a device compatible with the platforms the school uses.
When you’re first taking a look at homeschooling options in Oklahoma, it can feel like there’s a lot to take in. But with an accredited online school option like bina, you can rest assured that your kiddo receives a fully accredited, structured, virtual experience without the responsibility of teaching resting on you.
Want to learn more about how our structured virtual school days work? See if bina might be the right option for your homeschooling needs in Oklahoma. Start your bina journey today!
No, it is not a requirement for homeschool programs to be accredited in Oklahoma. However, many families prefer accredited options so their child can easily transition to high school and college.
Homeschooling usually refers to instruction led by parents, whereas accredited online schools might have certified teachers and standardized curricula.
Homeschooling schedules depend on the parent, as they are the ones who lead the instruction. For online schooling schedules, it depends on the program. Some are fully self-paced, while others run like a typical school day but in a virtual environment.
At the moment, Oklahoma does not offer a statewide ESA program to fund general education programs or expenses.
