Enrollment for FLVS Full Time Grades 9-12 Closes Today

As parents and students continue to evaluate their options for the upcoming school year, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) has extended the enrollment deadline for the full-time option, grades Kindergarten-eighth, until August 13, allowing each family to make the decision that works best for them. Enrollment for FLVS Full Time, grades 9-12 closes today, July 16. 

During the 2021-22 school year, FLVS saw unprecedented enrollment growth as many families were exposed to online learning for the first time. While applications for FLVS Full Time continue to be submitted for the next school year, the number of applications received so far outpaces pre-pandemic levels of applications received.

Florida Virtual School offers full-time and part-time flexible options for grades Kindergarten through 12. Students have access to more than 190 courses – including core, elective/specials, Advanced Placement, and Career and Technical Education courses – all tuition-free for Florida residents, and taught by state-certified teachers using a curriculum developed specifically for the online learning environment to ensure students’ success.

Recently, FLVS launched eight new courses for the 2021-22 school year with an emphasis on strengthening students’ workforce skills, including Environmental Science, featuring the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Cybersecurity Essentials, Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism, the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Program, and more. To learn about all the new courses coming this school year, visit flvs.net.

Families that would like to incorporate one or more online courses as part of their education plan for the upcoming school year can enroll in FLVS Flex year-round. To learn more about FLVS Full Time, FLVS Flex and other options, visit flvs.net. Students outside of Florida can also enroll through FLVS Global School; visit flvsglobal.net for more information. 

Courses Include Environmental Science Featuring the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Cybersecurity Essentials, Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism, and More, Preparing Students for the Most In-Demand Jobs Globally

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shift the employment landscape, the demand for soft skills is more important than ever. To strengthen students’ workforce skills, Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is launching new courses for the 2021-22 school year with an emphasis on Career and Technical Education courses (CTE), as well as the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma Program that allows students to master a broad range of skills critical for success in college and employment.

According to the ManpowerGroup’s Q3 2021 Employment Outlook Survey, 69% of employers are reporting difficulty in filling jobs as talent shortages reach the highest levels in 15 years. The new courses at FLVS are preparing students for the most in-demand jobs globally, which according to the same Employment Outlook Survey, includes positions in IT and data, operations and logistics, marketing and sales, and manufacturing and production. The courses are now open for enrollment and are a mix of core and elective courses for grades 6-12, tuition-free for Florida students, and include:

• Environmental Science, featuring the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation – Developed in partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, the course encourages students to take action and positively impact the environment, while also showcasing dozens of STEM careers. The course includes many hands-on, call-to-action, and enrichment activities that allow students to interact with the environment, immersing them in case studies of environmental problems and success stories around the world. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are a focus of the course and inspire students to become global citizens through soft skills like leadership, social influence, collaboration, and active learning and curiosity.
• Cybersecurity Essentials – Designed to encourage students to enter the cybersecurity profession where there are more than 500,000 open jobs in the U.S. and more than six million worldwide, this course explores available jobs within cybersecurity, allowing students to envision their path in the workforce. Students will learn about protecting firewalls, why companies use multi-factor authentication, as well as how to interview with companies and develop a resume. This is the final course in a series of three, all part of the Applied Cybersecurity Program of Study. All three courses include competency-based applied learning that contributes to higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, and occupation-specific skills. At the end of the program, students can earn the CompTIA Security+ industry certification.
• Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism – The strongest hiring outlook in the U.S. is anticipated in leisure and hospitality, with 41% payroll gain in the third quarter of 2021, according to ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the industry and potential roles to consider directly from industry professionals, including two former theme park experts, students will learn some of the most in-demand soft skills in the workplace, including how to adapt in an ever-changing environment, reasoning, and problem-solving. As part of this course, students also get to plan a vacation as an assignment, and are introduced to mini-familiarization tours for a variety of destinations throughout the world.
• Agricultural Communications 2 – This is the second course in the Agriculture Communications Program of Study, focusing students on the marketing and communications materials needed to keep communities informed about sustainable farming and agriculture. Throughout the program, students learn how to best present themselves to land their dream job and have the unique experience to interview an agriscience expert related to their career interest. At the end of this course, students can earn the Agricultural Communications Specialist industry certification.
• Hebrew 1 – This world language course allows students to learn beginning grammar and vocabulary skills to build basic fluency and language proficiency, while also immersing them in the beauty of the Modern Hebrew language and diverse culture. Hebrew 1 expands the already extensive variety of world language courses at FLVS, including Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
• M/J Visual Art 1 – A beginner level arts course for grades 6-8 where students learn about the elements of art, techniques, and skills that will help bring their creativity to life with digital and physical materials.
• M/J Visual Art 2 – Students in grades 6-8 explore the principles of art along with artistic themes like identity, earth art, and pop art. Both M/J Visual Art 1 and 2 teach core skills like creativity and originality.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma Program – Available to FLVS Flex high school students entering their sophomore or junior year, this program helps students develop strong research and writing skills for success in college and beyond. In addition, students can earn their AP Capstone Diploma or AP Seminar and Research Certificate from the College Board.
• Cambridge AICE Diploma Program – This international curriculum and examination system is available to FLVS Full Time students, and teaches foundational skills essential for success in college and employment such as critical thinking, problem-solving, research, communication, and collaboration. Through a diverse curriculum of art and humanities, math and science, and world languages, students examine and explore issues relevant to their own lives.

Florida Virtual School offers full-time and part-time flexible options for grades Kindergarten through 12. Students have access to more than 190 courses - including core, elective/specials, Advanced Placement, and Career and Technical Education courses – all taught by state-certified teachers using a curriculum developed specifically for the online learning environment to ensure students’ success.

Enrollment for the FLVS Full Time option is now open. Families that would like to incorporate one or more online courses as part of their education plan for the upcoming school year can enroll in FLVS Flex year-round. Students outside of Florida can also enroll through FLVS Global School; visit flvsglobal.net for more information. 

Parents believe online learning will continue to play an important role in the next school year, survey reveals.

With the end of the 2020-21 school year approaching – for many students, the first full school year attending virtually – parents are facing the decision on how to move forward. Beginning May 3, students can apply for the full-time program at Florida Virtual School (FLVS), while families that would like to incorporate one or more online courses as part of their education plan for the upcoming school year, can enroll in FLVS Flex year-round.

As school districts across Florida continue to announce their options for the 2021-22 school year, the latest survey conducted by FLVS revealed that 65 percent of parents – regardless of their children’s grade level – expect online education to be a part of their child’s future for the next school year. Parents of younger children also feel confident that online learning will meet their kids’ education needs, with 55.5 percent of K-5 parents expressing the highest level of confidence in online learning compared to in-person.

Although too much screen time and infrequent social interaction are still a concern according to the survey results, parents also noted the benefits they’ve uncovered from online learning. Parents found that kids have developed better study habits, as the online environment allows them to focus more and have less distractions than in-person learning. The individualized experience was also a benefit, and parents felt that there is better and more frequent communication between parents and teachers.

“This past school year exposed many families to online learning for the first time, and although there were challenges, there were parents that noticed that an online learning environment is what their children needed to blossom,” said Robin Winder, Senior Director of Instruction for Florida Virtual School. “On the other hand, FLVS Flex is perfect for those that want to continue with some online courses, while still registered at their zoned school, or that are homeschooled; or for students that want to take advantage of the summer to get ahead, as they can start at any time.”

Florida Virtual School offers full-time and part-time flexible options for grades Kindergarten through 12. Students have access to more than 190 courses - including core, elective/specials, Advanced Placement , and Career and Technical Education courses - all tuition-free for Florida residents, and taught by state-certified teachers using a curriculum developed specifically for the online learning environment to ensure students’ success.

To learn more about FLVS Full Time, FLVS Flex and other options, visit FLVS.net. Students outside of Florida can also enroll through FLVS Global School; visit FLVSGlobal.net for more information. 

Survey methodology

The survey was conducted by Florida Virtual School in November 2020, and was deployed to parents of children of all grade levels, including FLVS Full Time and FLVS Flex student populations. The 22-question survey was composed of six demographic questions, two school history questions, five questions on parent concerns and levels of confidence associated with their children’s education, and nine questions on parent perspectives of their role in schooling and schooling in general. Question types included Likert ratings, single- and multi-select multiple choice, and short answer responses. Of those invited, 2,441 parents/guardians completed all questions on the survey. Statistical analyses of responses as well as thematic analysis of open responses revealed important insights about parents’ levels of confidence in online education and their concerns for the future. To read the complete survey results and analysis, click here.

Florida Virtual School (FLVS), a statewide online public school district, is proud to announce the FLVS representative for the Florida Department of Education’s 2022 Teacher of the Year program is Hali Van Reeth.

Hali Van Reeth was selected as the 2022 FLVS Teacher of the Year from more than 2,400 instructors. Van Reeth, an FLVS Flex Middle School Comprehensive Science Teacher, recognizes that the learning needs are different for each student and strives to help each student succeed. She works with at-risk students re-shaping their perspective of school and/or helping them through challenging experiences and/or times in their lives resulting in a positive and inspiring impact on each student. Van Reeth, who has been with FLVS for more than five years, also serves as a Lead Teacher and Academic Success Coach in her subject area.

“It is a privilege to be the FLVS 2022 Teacher of the Year. I’m honored to represent not only FLVS but the dedicated and caring teachers I work with every day!” said Van Reeth. “Last year, the world was faced with the outbreak of COVID-19. Students and families were challenged with becoming teachers and helping their children learn from home. FLVS was there, and is still here, doing what we know best: providing high-quality, flexible, individualized education to thousands of students and families seeking alternatives to traditional school. I couldn’t imagine a more humbling honor than representing our teachers demonstrating what an amazing educational organization FLVS is as we continue to serve the individualized needs of our students and families. We are all teachers of the year!”

“Hali Van Reeth’s passion for individual student success shines through in her passion for reaching at-risk students and helping them to achieve their academic goals,” said Dr. Louis J. Algaze, President and CEO for FLVS. “Ms. Van Reeth piloted a Response to Intervention (RTI) program for middle school science students during the 2019-20 academic year, bringing students, parents, and teachers together to implement individualized recovery plans for students at risk of course failure or withdrawal. That first year, Ms. Van Reeth’s program helped more than 1,000 at-risk students complete and pass their science courses. She is a pioneer who uses innovative methods to help students succeed.”

Hali Van Reeth is a resident of Lake Worth, Florida.

The Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year program celebrates the thousands of outstanding professional educators in Florida schools. To learn more about the program, visit www.fldoe.org.   

Florida Virtual School (FLVS), a statewide online public school district, recently announced the FLVS representative for the Florida Department of Education’s 2021 Principal of the Year program is Dominique Baroco.

Dominique Baroco, a nine-year veteran of FLVS, is the Principal/Instructional Leader who oversees the Chinese and French teams for FLVS Flex. She is a servant leader, an energetic champion of individual student success, and a pioneer of creative learning opportunities. Baroco has seamlessly led her team in helping students find their pathways to success by implementing a collaborative intervention process involving each individual student, parent, classroom teacher, and lead teacher.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized as the Principal of the Year for Florida Virtual School. I have tremendous respect and gratitude for the teachers and mentors who have shaped me over the years, and the generous hearts and adept minds of all my colleagues, especially our teachers, inspire me in our shared mission,” said Baroco. “Alongside such admirable educators, it remains a daily privilege to speak to students, hear their stories and support their growth. When I look around at all those committed to providing a transformative education and personalizing it to every student, I see a bright future for our children, their learning and their possibilities."

“Dominique Baroco has impressed both her peers and the Leadership team with her enthusiasm for foreign language education, her methods of instructional innovation, and her own admirable leadership skills,” said Dr. Louis J. Algaze, President and CEO for FLVS. “A leader who has the respect of both those she leads and those to whom she reports is indeed an invaluable asset to any school.”

Dominique Baroco is a resident of Pensacola, Florida.

The Florida Department of Education Principal of the Year program honors principals who have spearheaded initiatives to increase student performance, promote safe learning environments and establish partnerships with parents and community members. To learn more about the program, visit www.fldoe.org.