Press Release

Florida Virtual School Strikes Partnership With Education Funding Partners

Denver, CO - February 29, 2012 - Striking a partnership deal that breaks new ground, Education Funding Partners today announced it would seek corporate sponsors to supplement funding for Florida Virtual School, the nation’s largest state-funded online Kindergarten-12, public school.

“This puts us in the middle of a global trend,” said Mickey Freeman, EFP’s President and CEO. “Virtual schools provide individualized instruction to hundreds of thousands of students, and it’s only going to get bigger. EFP can help the Florida Virtual School grow its mission, serve more students, and expand opportunities in virtual education.”

The school plans to use the money from corporate sponsors to expand its offerings. “We are excited about the partnership opportunities that Education Funding Partners will bring to Florida Virtual School,” said Julie Young, president and CEO of Florida Virtual School. “This will help open doors to provide funding for programs and new initiatives that will benefit our students and teachers.” Ms. Young has won numerous state and national awards for innovation in online learning.

Since Florida Virtual School delivers its instruction online, corporate sponsors may appear on the web as “responsible, socially committed corporations helping education,” Freeman said. “Florida Virtual School will have final approval over all content.”

School districts across the country have been facing severe budget cuts over the past few years, sparking lawmakers to place greater emphasis on virtual schools, which spend less money per student than traditional schools. Florida lawmakers recently passed legislation requiring all Florida public education students graduating by 2015 to take at least one online course. This affects all 9th graders starting this year.

FLVS has 1,500 employees and 130,000 students, offering more than 110 courses, including both core subjects and electives. According to its website, “Florida Virtual School believes every student is unique -- so learning should be dynamic, flexible and engaging.” FLVS is fully accredited by two major agencies: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation.

EFP will seek sponsorships from Fortune 500 companies. “This is a national marketplace, reaching educators and families with school age children,” Freeman said. “We’ll seek companies with a national reputation and play the role of matchmaker with Florida Virtual School.”

Representing Education Funding Partners at Voss & Associates, David R. Voss, 941-366-4845,?david@vossandassociates.net

Florida Virtual School – Tania Clow, 407-513-3627, tclow@flvs.net