Gary North

Jan. 13, 2011

This is from Wikipedia.

Founded in 1997 by President and CEO Julie Young, the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is an American online middle and high school with a new full time elementary school program through Connections Academy. In 2009. Florida Virtual School won the prestigious CODIE award-- http://www.siia.net/codies/2009/winners.asp -- for Best Virtual School Solution for Students.

According to its website, "FLVS is part of the Florida public education system and serves students in all 67 Florida districts. FLVS also serves students, schools, and districts around the nation through tuition-based instruction, curriculum provision, and training."

A state law required all districts to provide full-time virtual programs by the 2009-10 school year for kindergarten through eighth grades. Legislation was passed in May to expand the option to high school students, but that won't start locally until January.[vague] Many of these virtual programs are implemented through Florida Virtual School which allows students of a specific county to log into the county's program through the main Florida Virtual School website and use the "Educator" program.

FLVS is free to Florida residents who fund the program through state taxes; students outside of Florida may take the courses on a tuition basis. The fee is $375 for a half-credit (one semester) course and $750 for a full-credit (2 semester) course. There is an added $25 fee per semester for AP courses.

This program has now set a precedent. It tells the world that online education is at least as good as classroom education. Homeschooling can work. This has been denied by state-certified public education officials for 170 years.

This will shut a lot of critical mouths.