House Bill 523 amends Florida law to enhance the educational offerings of the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) by introducing blended learning and establishing the Florida Virtual School Justice Education Program. The bill revises the purpose of FLVS to prioritize the development and delivery of blended learning, particularly for students in certain Department of Corrections education programs. It introduces new reporting requirements for full-time equivalent students in these blended learning programs and outlines the funding calculation and allocation through the Florida Education Finance Program. Additionally, it mandates that students in the Justice Education Program take assessments at Department of Corrections facilities and requires annual performance reports from FLVS.

The bill creates a new section, 1002.371, which establishes the Florida Virtual School Justice Education Program, set to begin in the 2026-2027 school year, aimed at providing educational opportunities for inmates under 22 years of age. This program allows these students to earn a standard high school diploma through online and blended learning courses supervised by certified FLVS personnel. The bill also clarifies the definition of a "full-time equivalent student" in virtual education programs for accurate funding purposes and ensures that funding is available for educational services beyond the regular school year for students in juvenile justice education programs. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 523 Filed: 1011.61, 1011.62