New Florida law creating virtual schools

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- School districts across Florida are in the process of creating virtual schools online as part of a new state law, scholastic officials say.

Florida Virtual School Chief Executive Officer Julie Young said every school district in the state must have its own virtual school or be affiliated with another online service by the time the next school year begins, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post said Monday.

Young, whose Orlando, Fla., company offers such services, said the state will essentially be a test group for a law that requires available online public school classes for kindergarten through 12th grade.

"The rest of the country will be watching to see how it goes," said Young.

Debra Johnson told the Post she is embracing her new role as Palm Beach County's virtual school president as the new educational efforts will help children learn.

"This is a new world, and children have different learning modalities," Johnson told the newspaper. "We need to be preparing ourselves for not only the future but we need to be addressing students' needs now and providing different opportunities."