Florida Virtual School Tour

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Florida Virtual School Tour

• where every student has a front row seat

www.flvs.net
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The e-learning Promise

• In our current system,
• time is the constant and achievement the
  variable.
• Achievement should be the constant
• and time the variable.

We have it backwards.
In Learning a Living A SCANS Report.
Secretarys Commission on Achieving Necessary
Skills. Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of
Labor, 1992.
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What is FLVS?

• First state funded virtual high school
• An innovative plan to increase opportunities for
• Minority students
• Rural schools
• Low-performing schools

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Mission Vision Statement

• To provide students with high quality technology
  based educational opportunities to gain the
  knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the
  21st century.

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FLVS Goal

• Through partnerships, FLVS provides a unique and
  successful educational experience for all
  students.
• where every student has a front row seat

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FLVS History

• 1997 Began serving students
• 1998 School goes statewide
• 1999 USDLA Excellence in Distance Learning
• 2000 Offered full curriculum
• 2001 SACS accreditation
• International offerings
• 2002 GED Middle School

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FLVS Enrollment History
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AP? Scores Overall
Percentage of qualifying scores 70.07
2000-2001 Report
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FLVS Since 1997
Student Enrollment 77
8200 Completion Rate 50 80
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Our Students Today
54 Public school 38 Home educated 8 Private
school
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FLVS e-Learning Solutions

• Critical graduation credit
• Fast track to diploma
• Additional credits and scheduling needs
• Enhanced course selection
• Minority students
• Rural and high priority schools
• Magnets and special programs
• Homeschoolers

Any time, any place, any path, any pace
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Quality Education

• Courses built upon the highest standards
• Teachers certified in their subjects
• Serve varied learning styles and intelligences
• Different paths paces
• Incorporate real-life situations/motifs/themes
• A highly interactive environment

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Course Delivery

• Web-based platform
• Primarily asynchronous
• Synchronous capability
• White board and chat room
• Highly-facilitated by certified teacher

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Pace Charts
keep students abreast of where they should be
working and help them learn and practice methods
of time management
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Connections to Teens Real World
Computer Programming BASIC I has a game motif and
is rarely taught in traditional schools
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All Science Courses Are Lab Based
This physics lab has photos to support the
students work at home
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Synchronous White Board Chat
AP Calculus in Action real time Teachers
students in every subject can work LIVE!
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Student Choice Is Encouraged
Lessons designs accommodate different types of
learning, talents skills
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Honors Extensions
student access to high level courses regardless
of what their school offers
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Courses Not Readily Available at Most Schools
FLVS offers XHTML computer programming and web
design
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High Stakes Testing

• FLVS Assists Students Facing High Stakes Testing
• SAT Prep Course (.5 credit)
• ½ math, ½ verbal
• FCAT Fitness Course (.5 credit)
• Publicly posted
• 1/3 math, 1/3 writing, 1/3 reading

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Communication Policy

• HIGHLY teacher facilitated
• Welcome Call
• Voice to Voice 1-2 x/month
• Ongoing communication with
• Students
• Parents
• School Personnel
• Monthly Progress Reports

Not so with other online providers
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Reaching Out

• Direct Marketing to districts, schools and
  grassroots
• Brochures
• Created videos for students
• Presentations
• Curriculum fairs local expos
• Mailing and emailing

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Reaching Out

• Mass Media
• Television General and Education Channel
• Radio interviews
• Newspaper articles
• Face to Face
• e-Learning Managers
• Guidance Counselors

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Obstacles

• Technology issues
• Connectivity
• Hardware limitations
• Computer Access
• Gatekeepers
• Acceptable Use Policy signatures
• Passing on information

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Addressing Needs

• Juvenile Justice
• 15 other states
• International schools
• Adult remediation/GED
• Professional development
• Professional services

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Addressing the Needs

• Addressing rural technology needs
• Wired schools
• Provided
• Multi-media computers
• Video conferencing equipment
• Mini-grants for teachers
• Wireless pilots

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Addressing the Needs

• Creating a Foundation
• Reaching out to digital divide migrant programs
• FLVS computers loaned to rural schools
• Developing Minority Outreach Partnerships
• Digital Divide Councils
• Workforce Empowerment
• Florida Learning Alliance

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Florida Virtual School

• where every student has a front row seat

www.flvs.net
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2001 AP Course Stats

• Overall, 70 qualified for college credit with
  scores of 3 to 5
• 50 got 4s and 5s!