We request approval of agreement between Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), Florida Connections Academy and Connections Academy, LLC (FCA), and Florida Virtual Academy (K12) to provide an Elementary (K-8) virtual school program to students in the Hillsborough County Public School system. Contracts not available until Friday, July 25, 2008.

On June 10, 2008, Governor Crist signed HB7067 into law. This bill afforded school districts the authorization and funding mechanism to provide virtual school programs as part of their choice options. The law allows districts to begin virtual programs in the 2008/2009 school year and requires that programs be in place by 2009/2010. The law authorizes a full K-12 program and limited K-12 virtual school.

HCPS has been proactive in the field of virtual education and participated in amending virtual education law. The district’s partnership with Florida Virtual School (FLVS) has been of great benefit to our students. Currently there are two K-8 virtual schools authorized to operate in Florida; both schools have outstanding results and are ‘A’ schools.

The District has parents and students currently enrolled in the two state authorized schools. The 2008/2009 school year is a transition year for the state, where the current virtual schools provide programs for their existing students. However, no new students can be added except through a contract with the school district.

The District’s virtual school committee has met and recommends to the Board that we maintain our proactive role as a leader of virtual education in the State of Florida by contracting with both organizations to serve the needs of students and parents for the 2008/2009 school year. (Committee: Connie Milito, Chief Government Relations Officer; Jack Davis, Chief Information and Technology Officer; David Steele, General Director of Secondary Education; Josie Sanders, General Director of Middle School Education; Barbara Hancock, General Director of Elementary Education; James Pirotta, Administrator of Hillsborough Virtual School; Mia Small, Elementary Generalist; and Marilyn Duclos-Balliet, DRT Adult Education)

Not only will contracting allow us to abide by our District’s vision “to become the nation’s leader in developing successful students,” - but it will allow us to gain a true perspective of what these two organizations can provide to the District as we develop K-8 virtual school programs for the 2009/2010 school year.