Florida Virtual School Receives 2006 EdNET Impact Award
Award recognizes positive impact on education
Press Release:
Sep 21, 2006 (9:00 am)
BOSTON, MA - For the past decade, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) has focused on a single mission - providing students with high quality technology-based education. Today, the school received the 2006 EdNET Impact Award for its commitment to creating one of the strongest, most effective virtual public schools in the country. This prestigious award, presented to FLVS at EdNET, a national education conference held in Boston, MA, is bestowed only to organizations that have a track record of delivering quality educational support and instructional resources.
"We are all absolutely thrilled to be recognized with this award. Building a best-in-class educational program is only possible when every member of the team is passionate about making a difference. Our teachers, instructional leaders and support personnel have worked tirelessly to give our students the best quality education - they have truly earned this award," said Florida Virtual School President & CEO Julie Young. "I also want to thank everyone at EdNET and in the e-learning community for their support and encouragement over the years. With more and more students looking at online learning programs to supplement their traditional curriculum, it's important they continue to receive a high quality educational experience."
Founded in 1997, FLVS was the country's first, state-wide Internet-based public high school. It has grown to be one of the national leaders in developing and providing virtual K-12 education solutions. Since 2001, the school has experienced triple-digit growth in course enrollments while maintaining an over 80% course completion rate. FLVS actively supports the growth of online learning globally and currently has active partnerships in 35 states and tuition or licensing program with educators in six countries. Since launching its Virtual Leadership Training, an intense, hand-on training for individuals who are starting online programs, the school has trained more than 300 education innovators. "By blending business practices with passionate education innovators, I believe we have created a model that can be easily replicated to improve education more globally," commented Young.
In 2003, FLVS innovators embraced the challenge of becoming the first public school in the country to be funded purely on student performance - not attendance. In the last two school years, FLVS AP students perform on par with national averages and outpace other Florida students by 10%. Building upon academic performance as the measure for success, FLVS' Global Services division lead the development of the industry's first and only performance management system - Virtual School Administrator - that collects real-time data from each lesson and teacher-to-student communication to track overall academic performance. Available to any online program in the country, VSA builds in real-time accountability, support and coaching to sustain student achievement goals.
Over the past couple of years, FLVS leaders have also re-crafted the professional development, support and training programs available to virtual teachers. Not only do FLVS teachers receive professional development both online and in-person, its new teachers have year-long mentors who help them make the transition from a traditional to a digital classroom.
As the recipient of the EdNET Impact Award, FLVS had to demonstrate a significant impact on education over a period of time. It had to provide evidence that the educational practices being used resulted in improved student learning and demonstrate how their program generated a pedagogical change in support of improved student learning or educator practice. Finally, FLVS had to prove success in providing deep and diverse impact in reaching students globally.
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About Florida Virtual School
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is an established leader in developing and providing virtual K-12 education solutions to students throughout the country. A nationally recognized e-Learning model, FLVS founded in 1997 was the country's first, state-wide Internet-based public high school. Today, FLVS serves middle and high school students with more than 80 courses. FLVS is governed by an independent educational entity with a gubernatorial appointed board and is the only public school where funding is tied directly to student performance. Additional information can be found at www.flvs.net.
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