Metro Jacksonville

From the Miami Herald:

QuoteVirtual education has Florida as leader, moving into “uncharted ground”

Florida legislators just heard an update â€" nearly an hour and a half long â€" on the impact of bills passed last session on school vouchers and virtual education.

The basic result: More students with disabilities or from poor performing schools are using vouchers, and virtual education is booming in Florida.

“This is a major undertaking and tremendous expansion of virtual education,” said Michael Grego, who is the chancellor of public schools at the Florida Department of Education, at the meeting. (Grego is also the former superintendent of Osceola County schools.)

A snapshot of the numbers:

• More than 2,800 students have enrolled in the first year of Florida Virtual School’s full time program.

• Across the state, 56 districts run a franchise of Florida Virtual School, the state online program. That’s up from eight in 2008-2009.

• There are more than 50 applications for virtual charter schools that want to enroll kids in 2012-13.

Grego told the representatives on the K-20 Innovation Subcommittee that the expansion is not without its challenges. For example, making sure online courses and programs are good for kids and legitimate. Or that if a fourth grader qualifies to take an online course, weighing if that is the right option for that student.

“Florida has been a leader in this area and we are chartering into some uncharted, you know, some uncharted ground and I’m sure we’re going to come across some issues that we maybe had not anticipated,” said Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, who chairs the committee. "As those arise, we’ll deal with them."

Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/10/virtual-education-has-florida-as-leader-moving-into-unchartered-ground.html#ixzz1ZumIML5U

From the TU:

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400721/beth-cravey/2012-03-28/everest-boosts-florida-virtual-schools-laptop-loaner (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400721/beth-cravey/2012-03-28/everest-boosts-florida-virtual-schools-laptop-loaner)

QuoteEverest boosts Florida Virtual School's laptop loaner program

Submitted by Beth Cravey on March 28, 2012 - 11:13am Beth Cravey's Blog

Everest University Online, one of the nation's leading online career colleges, has donated $14,000 to The Foundation for Florida Virtual School.

The donation is in support of the Laptop for Learners Program, which provides needy Virtual School students with a loaner laptop. Currently more than 35 students are being assisted through the program, according to a news release.

The 2011 Florida's Digital Learning Act requires all public high school students to complete an online course before graduating. Florida Virtual School is a free public option.

The Foundation for Florida Virtual School provides the necessary resources to deliver a high quality, learning experience to students. Everest University Online's sponsorship of the Laptop for Learners program will help the Foundation loan laptops to 20 students, according to the release.

Everest University also has campuses in Jacksonville and Orange Park.

For more information, go to everestonline.edu or flvsfoundation.org.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400721/beth-cravey/2012-03-28/everest-boosts-florida-virtual-schools-laptop-loaner (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400721/beth-cravey/2012-03-28/everest-boosts-florida-virtual-schools-laptop-loaner)

Money from Everest University? No thank you.