Florida Students Registering For Mandatory Online Classes

In a "StateImpact" piece, NPR (8/23, O'Connor) reports briefly on Florida students' signing up to satisfy the state's "new graduation requirement for an online course," noting that some 150,000 students in the state will take a virtual class this year. "Advocates note the state can educate students for 23 percent less than in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. State officials say they conduct random exam and phone checks to protect against cheating and ensure students are learning." However, some caution that such classes "do not work for every student," particularly ESL students, special needs students, or students without access to computers or internet service.