In 2000, the School Board approved the initial Florida Franchise License with Florida Virtual School (FLVS). We are requesting approval of the renewal of this Franchise License to allow the District to continue utilizing the FLVS curriculum and management system to provide students access to online courses.

Blake Accelerated Magnet program has offered Florida Virtual School since 2000 utilizing courses provided through the Franchise License and serves approximately 100 full-time students annually.

The District also serves approximately 620 students per year through the online summer program, providing virtual courses for remediation and enrichment. Hillsborough District also provided students access to approximately 1,500 individual course enrollments in 2006/2007. The District earns FTE funds for students who successfully complete courses through the Blake Accelerated Magnet Program. This Franchise License also allows the District to offer Hillsborough Virtual School to serve additional student needs in the online environment. Home-schooled students enroll in approximately 1,400 half-credits per year through Florida Virtual School; our plans are to expand into year-round open enrollment, focusing on these students, beginning in the fall of 2007. The expansion will include middle school as well as high school courses. Students who are not enrolled full-time in a District school will earn FTE for the District.

All District Goals and Critical Success Factors

The annual franchise license fee of $15,000 and student enrollment fees estimated at approximately $87,500 are included in the divisional general operating budget for Curriculum and Instruction. 2007/2008 enrollment fees are estimated based on a projected enrollment of 2,500 students at $35 per half-credit. The district will earn FTE for Hillsborough Virtual School (HVS) students not enrolled full-time in a district school during the regular school year. A projection of 600 half credits earned by HVS students will generate approximately $190,000 in FTE funds.

Evaluation of the virtual school program in April 2008 will be based on the following factors: increase in enrollment and student completion rate.