About PVS

Polk Virtual School is the first district owned and operated virtual education program for Polk County School Board. This program serves students in grades nine through twelve with courses that are accredited through the Southern Associate of Colleges and Schools. Polk Virtual School serves public school students (as part of their regular schedule), hospital homebound, home schooled students, and private school students. Virtual education is completely Internet based. Enrollment and registration processes for Polk Virtual School are completed via the Internet. Any student with access to the Internet can enter their courses and work from any place, at any hour, and for as long as they choose. Polk County purchased the franchise rights from the Florida Virtual School to use their curriculum packages. Each course’s curriculum is designed using modular lessons. Each student completes their work, submits it via email to the teacher, it is graded by the teacher, and returned via email. Students earn credits through course work completion. The students and teachers communicate via email, whiteboards, and telephone. The instructional staff is comprised of adjunct teachers meeting highly qualified standards for their subject area. Adjunct teachers, serve a brick and mortar school during the day and work with the virtual students in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Polk County Public School Students
Polk Virtual School can serve concurrently enrolled Polk County Public high school students in its program, if the students are listed as shared students and the Polk Virtual School course(s) is part of the students’ daily schedules. The present legislation does not allow Polk Virtual School to earn FTE for students with a full schedule at a brick and mortar school.

Home Schooled Students
These students can enroll full-time in Polk Virtual School’s courses once PVS has received a copy of their home school approval letter. The approval letter is sent to the student’s parents/guardians once all of the appropriate paper work has been completed and submitted to the district office. Then the parent/guardian is to fax a copy of the letter to Polk Virtual School.

Hospital Homebound Students
Students enrolled through Hospital Homebound can take PVS courses with approval of PVS, the hospital homebound facilitator, and the zoned school. Course selection will be determined at the staffing for hospital homebound placement.
 

For more information call 863-534-7214 or email Donna Nicolodi or Elizabeth Warren.