Florida earns a B+ and ranks second nationally when it comes to embracing policies and practices that advance digital learning, according to a national report released Thursday.
The state earned an A or A- in six of 10 categories on the 2012 Digital Learning Report Card, which is compiled by Digital Learning Now!, an arm of Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education. Among the categories where Florida fared well: student eligibility, student access, quality content and funding. The state also earned a B for “quality choices.”
But it could only muster a C for “quality instruction.” And it got hit with two D’s – one for “advancement,” because it’s not there yet when it comes to basing credits on competency rather than seat time; and one for “delivery,” because it’s not there yet when it comes to upgrading the technological infrastructure in its schools. StateImpact Florida touched on the latter issue in this piece Wednesday.
Utah earned the highest grade, an A-, while only four other states earned B’s: Georgia, Minnesota, Virginia and Kansas.
The report notes Florida Virtual School is the largest public online course provider in the U.S., and that Florida has more online learners than any other state.
