Florida Virtual school

[suzannews]

Anyone have kids who take classes online either through the Florida Virtual school or whatever is available in your state? DD will be a freshman in August and is thinking of taking her health/PE class online over the summer to get it out of the way. Nothing like running the track in 90 degree Florida weather, dripping wet and then having to change and go to your next class, I hated that!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

DD took three classes through the New Hampshire Virtual Academy Charter School last year. It is associated with an online school in Florida (maybe the one you are talking about?I don't recall anything like phys Ed offered though).

For the most part she (and I) were happy with it. She really liked the English and math classes. History was very disorganized and time consuming (with lots of dead links or links where MUCH more information had been added since the course was written and finding what was needed was very difficult). I worked as a librarian and met a few ohter kids who had the same issues with the same history course (even a senior who had somehow missed freshman history and was taking it online--she had a schoalrship to MIT and was a super bright kids and SHE said the class was by far her most time consuming )

The kids who we met who were successful at the online courses were very self motivated and organized. They really have to keep themselves on schedule, make the time to do the work consistently, etc. Some kids really didn't do well without a set class time and a teacher to note if you were absent, etc.

 

[RitaZ.]

It's a great way for kids to accelerate their high school credits. The teachers are very responsive. There is a pace chart that the student has to follow. There are phone calls between the student, parents and teacher. I didn't know that PE was offered through FLVS. DS is a Jr. and has taken his PE credits this year.

I just did a search and found this... Wow! Looks like there could be severe cuts for FLVS.

Monday, March 30, 2009
Florida Virtual School Needs Support
From Florida Virtual School:

Dear FLVS Parent and Florida Families,

We have just had some alarming news from Tallahassee. The Florida Senate PreK-12 Appropriations Committee has adopted a series of budget and policy changes (SB 1676 - PDF) that will have a substantial negative impact on FLVS and the level of services it currently provides to students, parents, and school districts. The list below describes how such actions will impact you.

The cuts are more drastic than other proposed cuts to other Florida school districts. These cuts would eliminate 7th period course offerings and online elective courses, and they would limit student choice of online courses to the core academic courses.

What does this mean for you and your child if this bill passes?

If you are a student, …
• you will no longer be able to take the elective course that FLVS offers like AP Art History, AP Computer Science, web design, Life Management Skills, personal fitness, and maybe even foreign languages;
• you will no longer be able to accelerate by taking additional courses with FLVS after school;
• who has failed a required course in either middle or high school, and your public school offers no summer school option, you will not have access to FLVS and will likely to be retained and repeat an entire year of instruction;
• you will no longer be able to accelerate via FLVS courses and enter college or the workforce early;
• you will have limited access to FLVS courses that are not offered in your traditional public school;
• your class size in the brick and mortar school may increase dramatically;

If you are a parent, …
• your child will no longer have access to elective courses at FLVS, only core courses will be offered ;
• whose child is enrolled full-time in a public school, your child will no longer be able to take an additional course at FLVS, eliminating acceleration and grade forgiveness options;
• with a child who has failed a required course in either middle or high school, and your public school offers no summer school option, your child will not have access to FLVS and will likely to be retained and repeat an entire year of instruction;
• your child will have limited access to FLVS courses that are not offered in your traditional public school;
• whose child is taking an FLVS course, his/her class size will increase dramatically;

What does it mean for the state of Florida?
• It means that Florida will have to pay more per student. The Tax Watch study in 2007 estimated that FLVS saved taxpayers about $1000 per student each year.
• It means that Florida students will not be able to accelerate or take extra courses to prepare for college or careers.
• It means that Florida may lose its place as the thought leader in online education, and maybe even destroy the nationally #1 ranked on-line program in the country.
• It means that rural districts will be deprived of access to enhanced curricular choices.

FLVS cannot fight this battle by itself! Each of you needs to get involved. Please take the time to call and email your local legislators and tell them NOT to allow this proposed budget to remove the opportunities and choices that FLVS provides to you and your children, not to mention the cost savings to the state of Florida.

Tell your legislators your FLVS story. Has FLVS helped your child in certain ways? What did you think about the relationship your child, your child’s FLVS instructor, and you developed? Have you ever spoken to your child’s teachers that much?

It is not too late! Florida legislature will listen to you! Pick up the phone right now, and call your local legislators and the members of the four education committees. Tell Florida legislators to not single-out FLVS when making budget reductions.

Find your local legislators (Senator and Representatives) here:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx

http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Tab=legislators&CFID=37274819&CFTOKEN=79073907

 

[Rora]

I took all my physical requirements online.

I took PE, Life and Management Skills and Personal Fitness.

It was the best decision I made in high school! I didn't have to get sweaty during the day, didn't have to sit through classes about sex and making smart decisions.

 

[suzannews]

Thanks everyone so far. I sent an email to my daughters current guidance dept to find out what I need to do. She is all registered online but we need approval from her home school before signing up for a class.