Schools

Pasco Board (Unhappily) Approves Online Charter School

Florida Virtual Academy at Pasco will open this month, according to a local paper.

Pasco County students now have one more choice when it comes to schools.

The School Board in Pasco County on Tuesday (Aug. 6) approved a five-year contract with an online charter school called Florida Virtual Academy at Pasco, according to TBO.com.

Anywhere from 50-200 K-8 students are expected to be enrolled at the school, which will open this school year on Aug. 19.

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School board members, who previously rejected the application, only seemed to OK the academy because it met all legal requirements, according to TBO.com.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said he is “concerned” about Florida Virtual Academy, the paper reported. The management firm that will run the school had been investigated by the state for alleged use of uncertified teachers. That was found to be untrue, according to the paper, though out-of-field teachers were discovered.

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Questions about the academic performance of its schools have been raised, too. A representative for the academy told the school board that measures have been taken to improve the level of performance, the paper reported.

Information about enrollment for Pasco parents is available on the website


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