A classical, brick-and-mortar public charter school which opened just months before Covid, Optima set out to replicate the in-person experience as much as possible for its student when they were sent home, providing daily live instruction, meticulously planned assignments for each day, and student success kits with materials sent home every week. Two semesters of successful online learning planted the seed for its new online academy. Optima Academy Online (OAO) offers a unique, high-quality liberal arts curriculum featuring a classical approach to education in a virtual reality (VR) learning space. With a VR headset, students can learn from home or anywhere they have internet access. They can engage in live instruction or follow a self-paced course. OAO also fosters a supportive parent network that helps teachers and promotes the school in their communities. This combination of a distinctive, flexible program and engaged parent community makes OAO an appealing choice for students and families. If awarded the $1 million Yass Prize, Optima Academy Online would institute expansion efforts targeting underserved communities and regions with limited access to quality education, enhance its VR platform, ensure access and affordability, and work to influence policies that support innovative educational approaches and foster a more inclusive and flexible learning ecosystem.