About Us

FLVS FT’s predecessor, Florida Connections Academy, opened in August 2003 and operated a full-time K–8 program through the Florida Department of Education through the 2008–09 school year. In 2008, Florida Virtual School and Connections Academy joined forces to become Florida Virtual School Full Time (FLVS FT). For the 2011–12 school year, under new legislation enacted by the Florida Legislature, FLVS FT will be accepting students for full-time enrollment directly as their school district of record rather than only through their resident school districts. We can serve full-time students in grades K–12* as public school students and in grades 6–12 as home education students. Through this best-of-breed partnership, we offer the virtual school program that has been rated an "A" by the Florida Department of Education every year since 2006! The school also met the high accountability standards of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), earning it the designation of “met AYP” for the 2009–10 school year.

FLVS FT is able to serve students currently through two authorized programs in Florida:

FLVS FT Public Program	FLVS FT Home Education Program
A full-time program serving students in grades K–12* Standard public course load (6 courses per semester for grades 6–12 or equivalent for K–5) Follows a traditional 180-day school calendar Open to Florida resident students in any district Students in grades 2–5 must meet eligibility requirements based on prior public school attendance. (Check eligibility) Students must meet all public school requirements for attendance, graduation and standardized test participation FLVS FT will be the student’s school district of record and students will receive a school report card and diploma from FLVS Families qualifying for hardship exceptions may receive technology needed to participate.	A full-time program serving students in grades 6–12 Flexible with option to take up to 6 courses per semester for grades 6–12. Follows a traditional 180-day school calendar Open to Florida resident students in any district Students are considered Home Education students in their resident district and register in the district as home education (i.e. Homeschooling) students Students are encouraged, but not required to participate in state standardized testing FLVS FT does not offer home school students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and will not act as a school of record Families must provide their own technology.

FLVS FT Public Program

FLVS FT Home Education Program

A full-time program serving students in grades K–12*
Standard public course load (6 courses per semester for grades 6–12 or equivalent for K–5)
Follows a traditional 180-day school calendar
Open to Florida resident students in any district
Students in grades 2–5 must meet eligibility requirements based on prior public school attendance. (Check eligibility)
Students must meet all public school requirements for attendance, graduation and standardized test participation
FLVS FT will be the student’s school district of record and students will receive a school report card and diploma from FLVS
Families qualifying for hardship exceptions may receive technology needed to participate.

A full-time program serving students in grades 6–12
Flexible with option to take up to 6 courses per semester for grades 6–12.
Follows a traditional 180-day school calendar
Open to Florida resident students in any district
Students are considered Home Education students in their resident district and register in the district as home education (i.e. Homeschooling) students
Students are encouraged, but not required to participate in state standardized testing
FLVS FT does not offer home school students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and will not act as a school of record
Families must provide their own technology.

*FLVS FT Public Program will be accepting students grades K–12 in the upcoming school year. A diploma option will be added for the 2012–13 school year enabling the first FLVS FT Public graduating class of 2013.

Need help finding out which program is right for you? Both programs are described in greater detail on our Enroll page. Your resident school district also is required to offer full-time virtual instruction programs. Many will be using FLVS FT in 2011–12. Check here to see if your district is participating and check with your local district to see what other options are available to you!

Both Connections Academy and Florida Virtual School are fully accredited by AdvancED, and the Southern Association of Colleges and School Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

Parent Satisfaction

This year, greater than 94% of Florida Virtual School Full Time parents surveyed agreed that our program meets key quality benchmarks including teacher helpfulness and student satisfaction. Check out the latest survey results to see how FLVS FT parents felt about our program.

Contact Information

For information about Florida Virtual School Full Time, call 877-500-FLVS (877-500-3587), email us at info@connectionseducation.com, or send us a request for information.

To find out how to bring the FLVS FT program to your district, contact your district's Regional Liaison at Florida Virtual School (flvsft@flvs.net), or call 407-513-FLVS (3587).

School Leadership

Esilda Ross, Principal, grades K–8
Hannah Rinehart, Principal, grades 9–12
Sally Fernandez, Assistant Principal, grades K–5
Kathy Safi, Assistant Principal, grades 6–8
Samuel Ashley, Assistant Principal, grades 6-8

Administrative Office

Florida Virtual School Full Time
1707 Orlando Central Parkway
Suite 150
Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-857-6588
Fax: 407-857-8218

Partnership/Program Administrators:

Florida Department of Education: Sally Roberts, sally.roberts@fldoe.org

Ethical Conduct for Employees

Please visit our partner page to read about ethical standards for all of our employees.

View More Parents Say

With Connections Academy, we are able to break up the schoolwork throughout the day. My son is thriving in this environment, working a full grade level ahead in math. Even though his dad works nights, with Connections Academy, his dad can actually do some of the lessons with him. It helps us stay connected as a family.

~ Tammy Lenze
Florida Virtual School Full Time