SB345 Summary

• Establishes the Virtual Public Schools Act to authorize the State Board of Education to establish virtual schools delivering instruction via the Internet in virtual or remote settings.

• Virtual schools must provide students with sequential curriculum meeting State Board standards, the same number of instructional days as traditional schools, regular assessments in core subjects, instructional materials, and access to necessary technology including computers and Internet connections.

• Students eligible for public school enrollment may enroll in virtual schools as full-time or part-time students, with local boards of education permitted to charge tuition to non-residents.

• Virtual schools must maintain a principal administrative office within the state and employ only teachers qualified under existing state law; the State Board of Education may contract with nonprofit and for-profit entities for school operations.

• Virtual schools are evaluated annually by the State Board of Education based on student achievement gains and school accountability demonstrated through academic, fiscal, and operational performance.