FL H0523

Florida Virtual School must establish the Justice Education Program beginning with the 2026-2027 school year to provide inmates under 22 years old in Department of Corrections facilities the opportunity to earn a standard high school diploma through online and blended learning courses

Students in the Justice Education Program may not be funded for more than 25 hours per week of instruction, and students who turn 22 while enrolled may continue with approval but cannot receive funding through the Florida Education Finance Program

Florida Virtual School must negotiate a cooperative agreement with the Department of Corrections by July 1, 2027, covering roles and responsibilities, resource allocation, curriculum delivery, assessment procedures, transition plans, and safety provisions for education personnel

The Department of Education, Florida Virtual School, and Department of Corrections must jointly select a common student assessment instrument and protocol for measuring learning gains and student progression in the Justice Education Program

The act expands Florida Virtual School's purpose from "distance learning" to "blended learning" and adds Justice Education Program students as a priority enrollment category alongside home education students, rural/inner-city students, and military dependents