The Beverly Institute, Inc.
Policies and Procedures
Florida Virtual School as School Choice Option
Memorandum / Questions and Answers
Last Update 07/08/08
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY, Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR, Vice Chairman Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 21, 2006
TO: District School Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents for Instruction,
District Student Services Directors, District Directors of Secondary Education,
Secondary Principals, Secondary Guidance Counselors
FROM: John L. Winn
Subject: Florida Virtual School as School Choice Option
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is a fully-accredited public virtual school that offers free online courses
to middle and high school students in Florida. All FLVS teachers are Florida-certified in the subjects
they teach and all courses are aligned with Florida’s Sunshine State Standards.
Florida Virtual School provides options for students, parents, school districts, and schools.
Through FLVS, parents and students have expanded access to courses, and school districts have
options to help ease overcrowding and/or to provide their students with additional course and
acceleration opportunities. Students with limited or no access to a specific course are given priority
for enrollment. Florida Virtual School may also be a good fit for students who have medical or
behavioral issues that may limit success in the traditional classroom or for students needing a more
flexible schedule due to training for other extra-curricular endeavors.
The Florida School Code establishes Florida Virtual School as an educational choice and an
acceleration option for parents and students. Approximately 96 percent of FLVS students exercise
this option as a supplement to their public, home, or private school education and average 1.1
courses per student. Almost two-thirds of FLVS students are public school students. Articulation
agreements are in place between FLVS and school districts to develop a seamless partnership for
students. For the most part, access to FLVS courses and the subsequent transfer of successful
credit completions for public school students has been routine. However, in some cases, students,
parents, and school district staff have posed questions regarding access to FLVS courses and
transfer of FLVS credits.
The following questions and answers address these questions.
1. Can public school districts and schools deny access to a Florida Virtual School (FLVS)
course?
No. Section 1002.37(3(c), F. S., clearly states that school districts may not limit access to FLVS
courses. However, the school counselor will determine if the course is academically appropriate for
the student based upon course prerequisites and the student’s academic history and age.
2. Can public schools deny access to an FLVS course if the school offers the same
course?
No. The Department of Education issued DPS Memo 05-036, Student Progression Plan Revision
Charts 2004-2005 Correction, which clarifies that schools may not deny access even if they offer
the same course. The DPS memorandum that addresses this may be viewed at: http://info.fldoe.
org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-2441/05-036.pdf.
3. Can a student be enrolled in the same course at the traditional public school and at
FLVS at the same time?
No. A student cannot enroll in the same course concurrently at two different public schools.
4. Section 1001.42(21), F.S., requires school districts to provide access to FLVS during
or after the normal school day and through summer school enrollment. What does this
mean?
Students indicating a desire to take courses with FLVS during the summer, or during and/or after
the normal scope of a school day, must be allowed access to FLVS courses. Access means the
student must be allowed to take an FLVS course as part of the student’s full day curriculum
(during the school day), in addition to the normal school day (e.g., 7th period), and during the
summer term. For a student choosing to take an FLVS course as part of his or her full day of
instruction, the school should make every effort to provide a place for the student to access FLVS
content at the school site or allow the student to access the FLVS course at another location.
5. Can a district limit the number of credits a student may earn at FLVS based on
school board policy that limits the number of credits a student may earn in one or
more school years?
No. Florida Statutes place no limits on the number of credits a student may earn at FLVS during a
single school year or multiple school years.
6. Can a district limit the number of courses a student may take from FLVS during the
school day by requiring the student to take a minimum number of courses at the
traditional school?
No. The law sets no minimum or maximum number of courses a student may take from FLVS
during the school day.
7. How many courses may a student take from FLVS and still earn a high school diploma from his
or her district of residence?
Students should check with their school districts of residence to obtain information about district
policies for earning a diploma. FLVS is a regionally–accredited public school like many other
traditional public schools in Florida. Thus, district policies regarding awarding diplomas and student
movement/transfers among accredited public schools should also apply to students earning
credits from FLVS. FLVS does not award high school diplomas. However, full-time FLVS students
can be admitted to colleges and/or universities and receive Bright Futures Scholarships based
upon completion of the required high school courses, grade point average, college entrance exam
score, and other admission criteria. FLVS has a guidance department info@flvs.net and
information regarding planning for education beyond high school at the following web address:
http://www.flvs.net/students_parents/index_of_links_sp.php
8. Does the required access to FLVS include middle school courses, even though middle
school students only receive grades and do not earn “credits” for completion?
When speaking of access to FLVS courses, Florida Statute does not differentiate between middle
and high school content. Therefore, students have access to both middle and high school
courses. However, middle school students who want to take high school courses should check
with their guidance counselors about district policies related to this. For purposes of funding, the
DOE has taken the position that successful completion of middle school courses is equal to credit
earned.
9. Must receiving public schools accept credits and course completions from Florida
Virtual School?
Yes, this is the intent of state law.
10. Must receiving schools accept FLVS credits at face value? In other words, can a
student take an honors course at FLVS and be refused the honors designation on the
student’s transcript after completion of the course?
Section 1001.42(21), F.S., lists the duty of the district school board to provide students with
access to enroll in courses available through the Florida Virtual School and to award credit for
successful completion. The following points further require the acceptance of FLVS credits.
1. Florida Virtual School is funded through the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP).
2. SBE Rule 6A-1.09441, FAC, requires that courses which are funded through the FEFP and
courses for which students may earn credit toward high school graduation must be listed in the
Course Code Directory.
3. The Course Code Directory, which is incorporated into rule, also states that districts must
use course numbers and official abbreviated titles as listed in this directory on permanent records
and report cards. Honors courses have different numbers and short titles than the related general
courses. All FLVS courses are based on the Sunshine State Standards and are listed in the Course
Code Directory. Thus, they are the same courses offered in traditional public schools.
4. SBE Rule 6A-1.09941, FAC, requires that credits earned and offered for acceptance shall
be based on official transcripts and shall be accepted at face value, subject to validation if required
by the receiving school’s accreditation.
5. Florida Virtual School is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS). When schools are accredited by SACS, they agree to accept credits from other
SACS-accredited or regionally-accredited schools at face value.
Therefore, for students’ permanent records, FLVS transfer credits should be treated as other
transfer credits for courses listed in the Course Code Directory and/or from regionally-accredited
Florida public schools.
However, the methodology for the grade point average (GPA) calculations to determine class rank
and valedictorian or salutatorian status is determined at the local level. FLVS credits should be
addressed in the same manner as other transfer credits from regionally-accredited Florida
public schools. District and school policies regarding the determination of class rank and academic
honors should be addressed with the student before the student takes the FLVS course.
11. Can adult students enroll in FLVS courses?
No. Adult students cannot enroll in FLVS courses. However, FLVS has revised some courses to be
used for adult students for the Florida Adult and Technical Distance Education Consortium
(FATDEC). The public school districts in this consortium are working together to deliver curriculum
in a web-based environment for adult education and career technical programs in Florida's
secondary and postsecondary public institutions. FLVS provides the online courses to the districts
and trains the teachers, but does not teach the courses. The following website has additional
information about this consortium and which districts are members: http://www.fatdec.com.
12. What statutes address FLVS as a school choice option?
Numerous statutes address FLVS as a school choice option for parents, students and school
districts. These are listed as follows:
Section 1002.20(6), F.S., regarding K12 student and parent rights includes the Florida Virtual
School as an option for parental choice.
Section 1002.37(3)(c), F.S., clearly states that districts may not limit student access to courses
offered by the Florida Virtual School.
Section 1001.42(15)(a), F.S., includes as a duty of the district school board the requirement to
adopt procedures to inform the general public of the educational programs, needs, and objectives
of public education, including the educational opportunities available through the Florida Virtual
School.
Section 1001.42(21), F.S., lists a duty of the district school board to provide students with
access to enroll in courses available through the Florida Virtual School and to award credit for
successful completion. It also stipulates that access shall be available to students during or after
the school day and during summer school enrollment.
Section 1003.02(1)(i), F.S., requires school boards to notify parents at the beginning of the
school year about acceleration mechanisms, including the opportunity and benefits of Florida
Virtual School courses.
Section 1003.03(3)(b), F.S., relating to maximum class size requirements provides, as an
implementation option, the adoption of policies to encourage students to take courses from the
Florida Virtual School.
Section 1000.04(4), F.S., designates the Florida Virtual School as a component of the delivery
of public education within Florida’s K-20 education system.
Section 1007.27(1), F.S., states that it is the intent of the Legislature that a variety of
articulated acceleration mechanisms be available to public secondary and postsecondary students
and lists the Florida Virtual School as one of those acceleration options.
Thank you for your assistance and dedication in providing a variety of education opportunities
and options for your students. For further information, please contact Sally Roberts at 245-0502
or visit the following website: www.floridaschoolchoice.org.