A new law aims to offer more online classes to Florida students than ever before, but making sure it works as intended will take lots of time and planning, school officials say.
Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill into law July 1, allowing more out-of-state digital learning companies to partner with developing Florida online classes and requiring the Department of Education to research the effects. Now, the state has to figure out how to hold online teachers and curricula accountable.
The goal is to improve education for all Florida students, said Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, one of the bill’s sponsors.
“One of the biggest variables in students’ lives is the quality of the teacher at the front of their classroom,” Brandes said. “If we can somehow standardize the quality of instruction they’re receiving, we can remove one of the variables from their educational success. I don’t think we’re going to get to that point where every student is learning the same thing, but we should be using technology to help our teachers facilitate that process.”