Virtual Reality School Gets Florida Voucher Funds

Families considering online schooling in Florida should know this Metaverse-based school receives public school choice money.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Distance Learning

Virtual Reality School Gets Florida Voucher Funds

Live Poll

Should Florida use public school choice funds for virtual reality online schools?

Optima Academy Online, founded by Erika Donalds, enrolls students who attend live classes in the Metaverse by wearing virtual reality headsets. The school receives Florida school choice funds that are ultimately overseen by the governor.

Why it matters

The school's model shows how virtual reality could change where and how Florida students learn, and its public funding places it within the state's expanding voucher program. Critics, including former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, have raised concerns about a conflict of interest given Donalds's role as incoming First Lady of Florida.

The source does not report specific voucher amounts, enrollment numbers, or tuition figures for Optima Academy Online. The school's public funding comes through Florida's school choice program, which is ultimately overseen by the governor.

The players

Optima Academy Online

An online school that holds live classes in the Metaverse and offers classes in several states, funded in part through Florida school choice programs.

Erika Donalds

The founder of Optima Academy Online and the incoming First Lady of Florida.

Gwen Graham

A former Congresswoman who said the school presents a conflict of interest.

Adam Mangana

President and CEO of OptimaEd, who predicts a shift toward immersive learning.

The details

Optima Academy Online holds its classes in the Metaverse, so students attend live lessons while wearing virtual reality goggles rather than on a laptop or phone. Other students in the same virtual classroom attend wearing headsets as well. The school is funded through Florida's school choice program, with the funds ultimately overseen by the governor. Enrollment is available in several states, and the school plans to grow as Florida's voucher program expands.

Adam Mangana predicts that over the next 10 years, students will shift toward immersive presence in headsets or hologram form.
Optima Academy Online plans to grow as Florida's school voucher program expands.

Education Landscape

Optima Academy Online's public funding comes through Florida's school choice voucher program, which the school expects to expand. The school's virtual reality model reflects a broader move toward remote and immersive learning that its leadership expects to grow over the next decade.

Families considering online schooling in Florida may want to ask a school's admissions office how it is funded and what technology students need, including whether headsets are required. Questions about eligibility for state school choice programs are best directed to the state program administrator or the school's admissions office.

The takeaway

Virtual reality classrooms are a new option for Florida families, and the school's public funding makes its model relevant to the state's voucher debate. Before enrolling, ask the admissions office how the school is funded and what equipment a student needs to attend.