“She has a few health issues, so a full long day is difficult, so for her to continue to have a more rigorous schedule, and to be able to take the classes she’d like to take- this is a great opportunity,” says Lori Swanson of her daughter, who is taking two virtual school classes, and the rest at Chiles High School.

“We want every student to graduate and we know that sometimes there isn’t one fit for all, one size doesn’t fit all in education,” says the Virtual School principal, Gillian Gregory.

For the rest of the article, go to Students Enjoy Self Pacing, Convenience of Leon County Virtual School

This year Leon County Schools introduced Leon County Virtual School for local middle and high school students. Although online classes have been available through Florida Virtual School, the localization makes online classes more specific and practical for users. According to the Tallahassee Democrat (Wednesday August 31), there are already more than 1,000 students registered. This is a step in the right direction for Leon County schools.

More colleges and universities are increasing their number of online courses to accommodate student schedules and to encourage distance learning. I think allowing middle and high school students a jump start on this trend will give them the opportunity to boost their work ethic.

For the rest of the article, go to Attending virtual school can have it’s benefits

Students in grades 6-12 who are enrolled in private schools, charter schools and traditional public schools may enroll in part time virtual school.

Many of the students who are currently enrolled are professional athletes or students who have physical or psychological disabilities that make attending a brick and mortar school very difficult.

Orientation for students will be held at Lee County School District Headquarters at the corner of Colonial and Metro in Fort Myers.

For the rest of the article, go to Orientations underway for Lee Virtual Instruction Program

The virtual school also offers instruction to students up to grade 12 from state-certified teachers and follows the normal public school calendar, but day to day learning periods are flexible as long as students reach expected outcomes by nine weeks or semester breaks.

New offerings from Calvert for the upcoming school year include hands-on science kits, language arts proficiency placement, interactive multimedia activities, and instructional videos, plus a writing skills workshop and online math textbook with added glossary, annotation, and calculator functionality.

For the rest of the article, go to Florida Online Elementary School Expands Educational Resources

Lake Weir principal Cynthia Saunders said the program had a huge impact. She was worried about students since other programs, such as GED Exit Option, were changed by the state in 2009-10.

“We offered (credit recovery labs) all day and after school all year,” said Saunders, stating that many of her students did not have Internet access that was fast enough to take courses at home through virtual school.

She said the credit recovery at school helped students get those last few credits. They even walked with their class at graduation.

And officials say if that alone is not reason enough to continue the programs, hundreds of middle school students also participated in unit recovery and elementary school children attended summer school to get prepared for FCAT.

For the rest of the article, go to Special school tax would fund after-school and summer programs

Other ways the district will meet class-size include paying middle and high school teachers to take on an extra period, expanding the I-Flagler virtual school program to accommodate more secondary students, and creating multi-grade classrooms, Valentine said.

Valentine’s initial plan to employ associate teachers rankled members of the district’s teacher’s union because it would cause a revision of the salary scale.

Still, the union wanted to team up with district officials to find a solution that was favorable to both sides, said union member Pam Vatten.

“We’re really trying to work together to solve this problem,” she said.

The hire of substitute teachers is ideal, especially because “the cost savings is dramatic,” she said.

Districts have until October to meet the class-size rule or risk losing state money.

For the rest of the article, go to Flagler schools look to subs

“We’re looking at all possibilities, including building a K-8 school that would allow us to close a middle or elementary school,” said School Board Chairwoman Jane Pfeilsticker. “If we choose to do any of this, it will take a year to implement.”

There are many reasons for the empty seats, district officials say.

The struggling economy and housing market played a large role. New charter schools, the increasing popularity of home schooling and the Florida virtual school program, that allows students to take online classes outside of a regular school, have lowered the number of students in traditional schools, said Danny Lundeen, the district’s supervisor of student demographics and projections.

There are currently 3,755 empty seats in elementary schools, 1,941 in middle schools, and 1,287 in high schools, Lundeen said.

For the rest of the article, go to Manatee School District Looks at Closing, Consolidating Schools

Imagine a school where every student has a front-row seat, shows up at his or her convenience and works at an individual pace.

Some are shaking their heads: “No, could never happen here.” But Marion Virtual School is happening here. Students log on, learn and interact electronically – all from home. Parents, teachers and students give it high marks.

“We have 2,500 students,” said Carolyn Ayres, franchise manager for Marion Virtual School, a program of Marion County Public Schools. “We offer everything, the same as a brick-and-mortar school. We are a franchise with Florida Virtual School with 32 teachers. Eleven are full time, and all are employees of the Marion County school system. We are a well-kept secret. We’ve been a school in Marion County for five years.”

Twenty-nine of Florida’s 67 counties have a virtual school program.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual school gaining popularity in Marion County