Foundation for Florida’s Future Joins the First Ever National Celebration of Digital Learning Day

Tallahassee, FL – Today, students, parents, teachers, state leaders and education advocates from across the country are celebrating Digital Learning Day. Florida lawmakers and schools around the Sunshine state have joined the celebration dedicated to recognizing the power of digital learning to increase student achievement.

"A quality education can change a life, and digital learning has the power to ensure each and every student in America has access to a high quality education that prepares them for a lifetime of success," said former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, chair of the Foundation for Florida's Future and co-chair of Digital Learning Now!. "Digital learning provides teachers with the tools to customize instruction with precision, and it allows students to earn credit for what they learn rather than how much time they spend in the classroom. These interactive and adaptive learning technologies can ensure that every student advances to the next level when they have mastered the necessary skills and material, not just when the school year ends.”

Florida pioneered the digital movement and embraced virtual learning’s ability to provide rich course content to students anywhere at any time. To date, Florida Virtual School serves more than 150,000 students, with over 2,800 students enrolled full-time; full-time district virtual education programs serve over 4,600 students; and Florida has approved two virtual charter schools.

Virtual education is only one facet of digital learning. By harnessing the power of technology, every student in and out of the classroom can have a customized learning experience.  Education can be personalized for each and every student so no student is left behind and no student is bored.

Legislative session is underway, and Florida lawmakers are advancing new legislation to expand digital learning options for more students, remove the requirement that students must have been enrolled in a public school the year before, and allow full-time Florida Virtual School students to participate in their local school’s extracurricular activities. The Foundation for Florida’s Future looks forward to working with Florida’s lawmakers to continue expanding digital learning options and privileges for more students.

For more information on Digital Learning Day and its events, visit www.DigitalLearningDay.org, and be sure to join the #DLDay conversation and follow @DLDay2012 on Twitter.

For more information on digital learning, visit www.DigitalLearningNow.com.