School Choice
Choose Your Education
By Guest Blogger on January 25th, 2017
Having choices is a beautiful thing.
And it is especially powerful to have a choice when it comes to education. For an entire week (Jan. 22-28), we celebrate National School Choice Week to help bring awareness to all of the different ways students can be educated.
Whether being taught at home, at a brick-and-mortar school, a private school, a magnet school, or even virtually, you or your children are learning, and that’s what really matters.
Here are some excerpts from our Florida Virtual School teachers describing how attending school virtually seems to be the best fit for these students: Continue reading
The Value of an Online Course
By Guest Blogger on August 4th, 2016
The other weekend, my mother was happy to come and watch my son as I tackled a few things that had been on my list for a while.
My “To Do” list consisted of starting a mortgage application, purchasing some “the best way to get your baby to sleep through the night” products and printing nearly 1,000 adorable photos of my now 7 month old.
She immediately scooped up her grandson when she arrived (you would too, he’s so cute!) and took off into the other room so he could show her his new trick of “almost crawling.”
Two hours later, she came out into the kitchen and was startled to see that I was still sitting there. Continue reading
Legislation Opens New Opportunities
By Guest Blogger on May 4th, 2016
If you’re like me, you follow education policy closely.
Even if you don’t, it was pretty hard to miss the emphasis put on education this past session here in Florida.
You’ve probably at least heard about “House Bill 7029 – Education” in the news and know that it was pretty big. It addresses areas like athletic eligibility, parent and student rights, the option to attend any public school in the state (given that there is space), and so much more.
That last one, attending any public school, really opens up school choice. Luckily, children all over Florida already have the option to enroll in Florida Virtual School. That’s one of the many perks of being virtual – meeting the student where they are. Continue reading
Let Freedom to Choose…Ring
By Guest Blogger on March 29th, 2016
Choice.
It’s a beautiful word. It means having options and being able to select an alternative for something that works for you.
Whether you’re male or female, if you live in the United States, you have a choice—where to live, what to eat, and what to do with your life.
Opportunities exist in this country like none other. We can choose our religion, our education, our life partner, our president, and what livelihood we wish to pursue. In many other countries around the world, these choices are made for you. Continue reading
“Education for Everyone!”
By Guest Blogger on February 3rd, 2016
Think online learning is too difficult for students with unique abilities and needs? Think again.
Florida Virtual School has been a proud provider in education for students with unique abilities and needs for many years. Our teachers are trained to work with students and help them succeed and the data is showing just that…success!
Let’s take a look at the State funded Personalized Learning Scholarship Accounts (PLSA) program, now known as the Gardiner Scholarship. It launched in fall 2014 and allows parents to personalize their child’s education based on the individual needs of each unique eligible child. The funds can be used for therapeutic resources, tuition, tutoring, and even virtual school. During the 2014-15 school year, FLVS had 215 successfully completed courses from students with a PLSA. Of these courses, 99 percent were completed with a grade of A B, or C. A special thanks to the legislature and Governor Scott for expanding this program effective July 2016 through SB 672.
National School Choice Week 2015
By Guest Blogger on January 26th, 2015
“May I have extra vegetables instead of the chicken on my salad?”
It’s a question I often ask while at restaurants because I’m a vegetarian. Many of you probably know my pain of trying to tailor a restaurant meal to specific needs. Maybe you have food allergies, picky children, or just want to change your dinner up, but we’ve all faced it.
Luckily, today, restaurants seem more than willing to offer multiple choices, cooking styles, plate sizes, and substitutions. Almost every time, my meal is perfect for ME. It’s been a while since I’ve run into a situation where I didn’t have a choice when looking through a menu. If I did, you can bet your last penny that I wouldn’t go there! Would you? Continue reading
FLVS Courses for Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Recipients
By Guest Blogger on January 20th, 2015
Here at Florida Virtual School, we want ALL students to have access to our amazing selection of more than 140 courses. Our students come to FLVS from many different backgrounds and for many different reasons, and there is something for everyone!
We understand that Florida Virtual School families value choice and opportunity when it comes to their children’s education and we make it our goal to provide it.
We work with all of the School Choice programs in Florida and the districts to make sure students have access to high-quality digital learning.
Today, we want to talk about the opportunity that students receiving the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship have with FLVS.
Did you know that recipients of the FTC can take up to two FLVS courses each school year?
A Peek through the Lens
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on June 6th, 2014
When our daughter was 9 years old, we enrolled her in the FLVS middle school (M/J) Creative Photography course. We thought since Ellie wasn’t getting the creative instruction in her traditional school curriculum (it seemed to be all test preparation in straight dull rows), she would be able to find that spark of inspiration through this online elective.
Little did we know the significant impact it would have on her and how this shy little girl would find her inner voice through her camera’s lens. Continue reading
For Indecisive Ice Cream Eaters
By Guest Blogger on May 20th, 2014
While reading an article about a subject that is near and dear to my heart (ice cream!), I discovered that Ben and Jerry have done it again. They have truly revolutionized the ice cream eating experience. Their new product, Cores, features a column of goodness running right down the center of two different types of ice cream. How amazing is that?! It’s true bliss for indecisive ice cream eaters around the world. You get two types of ice cream, along with an amazing core of ice-cream-topping paradise. Continue reading