6.0 Lee Virtual Instruction Program (LVIP) 6.1 Overview
HB 7067, passed in 2008, created §1002.45, F.S. The statute states, “Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, each school district shall provide eligible students within its boundaries the option of participating in a virtual instruction program.”
The School District of Lee County has established the Lee Virtual Instruction Program (LVIP) to provide students with a high quality virtual program through the Lee Virtual School. The LVIP offers both full and part-time options for students in grades K-12. All classes are available to registered public, home school or private school students.
6.2 Eligibility
Student eligibility for LVIP is limited to students residing within the district’s attendance area as well as students from other districts. Students enrolling from other districts must be enrolled through Lee County and will receive credit that can be transferred to their district of residence upon completion of the course or grade level.
LVIP Part Time
LVIP offers part time virtual courses to students enrolled in traditional Lee County School District Schools. Students may request LVIP courses online or through their school counselor. LVIP courses fulfill the online course requirement set forth in §1003.428, F.S.
Students are co-enrolled from their assigned district school and the final LVS course grade earned is automatically entered on their transcript. Failure to complete an LVIP course may result in a grade of F.
6.3 Full Time Grade Level Placement
Students enrolling in LVIP shall be administratively placed in the appropriate grade level.
This placement will be based on the most recent school records on file with the District, or another approved education provider as well as a placement assessment. If there is no history of school enrollment, the placement will be based on the grade level recommended by the parentand placement assessment. District administration will determine final grade placement.
Decisions regarding student promotion, grade level placement, and retention of virtual students entering the District are primarily the responsibility of the LVIP administration.
The final decision regarding the methods in which grade placement decisions must be made shall be based on the criteria established in the District Student Progression Plan for the elementary, middle and high school levels as well as assessment and placement methods for the respective grade level.
Criteria to be considered may include age, school readiness, ability to work independently, standardized achievement test results, state assessments, previous performance in public and private schools, progress towards graduation standards, and (when applicable) compliance with virtual education program requirements. In no instance shall placement in a grade be based solely on the recommendation of the parent/guardian or a non-approved curriculum provider. The provisional placement decision is subject to screening and review of the student’s work and performance. Subsequent to appropriate screening, the student shall be allowed to remain in the assigned grade or placed in the most appropriate grade.
Students wishing to participate in a blended learning experience with part of their courses at a district brick and mortar school and the others through LVIP, must follow the enrollment process through student assignment. Once assigned, students can work
through school counselor and administration to be placed in virtual courses or traditional classroom courses based on availability.
6.4 Attendance
The LVIP full-time programs follow the same school calendar as all other Lee County public schools. Therefore, students will receive all instruction through this program and will not receive any instructional programs from other public schools. Furthermore, students may be granted access to other virtual or traditional school programs as a part of the school day so long as courses are approved and scheduled through the Lee Virtual School guidance department. Attendance in the program is expected to be for the entire school year or until a student successfully completes a subject or grade level. Attendance is required for each scheduled school day. Students are required to log in for attendance and actively engage in school work for a minimum of 6 hours per day. Students must be on or ahead of pace in all courses to remain in the program. The School Board attendance policy will apply to the LVIP. Any non-attendant or truant students will be removed from the virtual program and required to withdraw and return to a traditional school setting or other education option.
Truancy may be determined by log in attendance, lack of submitted coursework, or non-contact with school instructional or administrative personnel.
6.5 Promotion/Graduation
The LVIP is a public school in Lee County and therefore students will be held to all promotion and graduation requirements of Lee County and the State of Florida. LVIP students will receive a Lee County School District diploma and participate in commencement ceremonies upon completion of the 9-12 LVIP.All students are encouraged to participate in commencement exercises. Students who cannot attend may pick up their diplomas after graduation from the LVIP office. LVIP will not mail diplomas.
Students who are not successful in the majority of their LVIP courses or are retained will be withdrawn from the virtual program and directed to student assignment to be placed in a different school.
6.6 Statewide, Standardized Assessments, EOC and Other Mandatory Assessments
Students enrolled in LVIP are public school students and are therefore required to participate in all District and State mandated testing, including but not limited to the statewide, standardized assessment and EOC. District and State mandated tests will be administered in a location determined by school administration. This location will be communicated to students and families no less than 4 weeks prior to testing dates.
Students who do not attend required testing may be immediately removed from the virtual program. LVIP administers mandatory proctored assessments when there is any suspicion of an academic integrity issue as well as to approximately 10% of full time virtual students on a random basis.
6.7 Learning Coach
Each student must have a learning coach, who must be a responsible adult. The learning coach must be available for a minimum of 5 hours per day to monitor the student’s computer access, engage in student follow up activities, facilitate learning, provide support with homework assignments, manage the receipt and use of instructional materials and ensure student participation in the statewide, standardized assessment, EOC and other mandatory testing. In homes where there are multiple students, the designated learning coach will need to provide a minimum of 5 hours per day for each student enrolled in the LVIP.
Face to Face Events
In addition to required testing, LVIP requires students to attend certain face to face meetings and events during the course of a school year. These events include
parent/student orientation, first day of school, portfolio review(s), and class meetings. All events can be seen in advance on the LVIP online calendar. Non-participation is not acceptable and may result in the student being withdrawn.
6.8 Withdrawal
Enrollment in the LVIP is expected to be a commitment for not less than one school year. In the event a student withdraws from LVIP, the student will be required to receive a new school of assignment according to the District’s student assignment plan. LVIP does not issue transfer grades for incomplete courses. Students who participated in the student assignment process prior to enrollment in the LVIP will forfeit their seat in the student assignment program upon enrollment in the LVIP. Students and parents will need to reapply for any new school assignments or out-of-area assignments for subsequent years.
6.9 Technology
To be successful in the program, students must have daily, dedicated access to a computer, monitor and the Internet and appropriate software. Certain browser requirements may apply.
6.10 Registration for LVIP
All registration documents must be completed and approved through Lee Virtual Instruction Program Office before courses may be assigned. Deadlines can be viewed each year on the LVIP website.
Lee Virtual Instruction Program Office is located at:
2855 Colonial Boulevard Fort Myers, FL 33966 Phone: 239-337-8247
Contact information including but not limited to: guardian, address, telephone and email must be kept up-to-date and on file with LVS office and within student’s virtual school learning management system accounts. In the event LVS staff is unable to contact students and/or the respective guardian/parent, LVS will prohibit students from accessing their accounts until such information is corrected, accurate and on file with the LVS office.
All address, telephone and email, etc. changes must be made directly with the LVS secretary.
6.11 Orientation
An orientation seminar to familiarize parents or guardians and students with the virtual education process is required upon registering for LVIP. These orientations will be offered prior to the beginning of each instructional term and must be attended by parents and students. Students will not be scheduled for any classes until they have completed an orientation session. Parents will sign and submit a contract for student attendance, behavior and achievement documenting that they are familiar with the LVIP student attendance, behavior and achievement agreement. Completed forms will be turned in to the LVIP office and will need to be renewed prior to each school year.
6.12 Online Discipline and Academic Integrity
Virtual students must comply with the District’s technology acceptable use contract and are subject to discipline through the Department of Student Services should infractions to this contract occur. LVIP may request students in any grade level to take a proctored assessment whenever academic integrity is questioned.
6.13 Extracurricular and Enrichment Activities
Virtual School is a school of choice and therefore certain programs and activities offered at traditional schools may not be available to virtual students. The District has made every attempt possible to create equity between traditional and virtual instructional programs.
However, there are activities and events that are impossible to replicate in an individual, online instructional environment.
Virtual students in grades K-12 may participate in extracurricular or sports activities offered in other District schools, as referenced in School Board Policy 4.07. Virtual students may access certain extracurricular events and activities at a pre-assigned zone school.
Students may participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities providing they adhere to the requirements, as specified in §1006.15, F.S.
Students who want to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity must meet the same residency requirements as other students in the school where they participate.
The residency requirement is based on the District student assignment plan. Therefore, all Lee Virtual Instructional Program (LVIP) students who want to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity must go through School Assignment and be assigned a school.
LVIP students participating in interscholastic extracurricular activities must meet the requirements of participation as set forth in Board Policies 4.06 and 4.25 and by the Florida High School Athletic Association Policy 26 Section C. All Florida High School Athletic Association requirements must be met, as specified in §1006.15, F.S.
6.14 Retention/Credit Retrieval
Elementary students (K-5) who do not successfully complete grade level requirements will not be permitted to continue in the virtual program for the following year. Instead, students who did not complete the grade level must enroll the following year in a traditional school location to repeat the grade.
Secondary students (6-12) who do not successfully pass any course must retake that course prior to graduation. Students in grades 6-12 must pass the majority of their courses to remain in the full time program. In certain situations, summer school remediation in a traditional school setting may be available.
6.15 Grades
Interim, quarterly, and semester assessment grades will be issued by the District according to the District calendar and grading guidelines for the appropriate grade level. Semester LVIP report cards will be mailed home as well as available on line for students and parents to view. Quarter grades and interim progress reports are maintained online and are available for parents and students to view using their respective accounts.
6.16 Transferring in and out of LVIP Program
Students may transfer out of the LVIP program and be assigned to a traditional school through the Department of Student Assignment. Voluntary transfers are only permitted once each school year. Transfers are not available during either the fall or spring FTE weeks. Transfer grades will not be provided.
6.17 Computer Access and Equipment
Students whose family income meets the criteria for free or reduced price lunch may be provided with computer equipment and Internet access solely for the purpose of completing the online curriculum. Families applying for technology assistance must complete an application process which includes showing a demonstration of need documented by current federal income tax return, two most recent pay stubs, cable, phone and electric bill.
Families provided with equipment and accesses are responsible for the equipment and may be held liable for inappropriate use, abuse, damage, or theft. Families that are issued a computer and internet connection will be responsible to maintain the equipment. The Lee County School District does not provide any maintenance support for computers that are
used in an off campus, full time virtual learning environment. Students are required to return any issued equipment prior to the last scheduled day of school.
Internet access is provided for accessing virtual curriculum and resources related to the instructional process only. Internet connections are subject to random monitoring. In the event of misuse, the connection will be terminated and the student required to secure a different means for access or withdraw from the program.
In the event equipment is not returned, families will be liable for the value of the equipment. Student transcripts requests and enrollment will not be completed until any outstanding fees are settled.
6.18 ESE & Specialized Services
Students requiring ESE services will be reviewed (IEP staffing or review meeting) to determine if Virtual Education is appropriate for the student and to determine what level of support can be offered. Existing students with disabilities must have an IEP review PRIOR to enrolling in LVIP. Students with disabilities enrolled with an IEP are subject to the same review and standards as their traditional school counterparts. In the event that an IEP team determines placement in LVIP is not in the best interest of a student, the student may be transferred to a better suited learning environment or the parents may opt to rescind any IEP services.