Cost a big factor in ranking virtual school providers
Cost was the determining factor in school district staff’s ranking of perspective virtual school providers for the next school year.
The recommendations are to contract with K12 Florida Virtual Academy, a Herndon, Va.-based K12 Inc., for grades K-5 and Arlington, Va.-based Educational Options for grades 6-12. The School Board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations June 16.
Starting with the 2009-10 school year, all 67 Florida school districts have to provide an online school, either using their own staff and curriculum or contracting with an outside company.
In total, five virtual school providers submitted bids for the Alachua County contract – two for grades K-5 and three for grades 6-12. Sandi Anusavice, the district’s director of secondary curriculum, said a staff committee concluded that the providers were evenly qualified when it came to academic curriculum and their teachers’ credentials. So, the staff recommendation came down primarily to money.
For grades K-5, cost quotes from state-run Florida Virtual School were, in one case, nearly $500 more than those submitted by K12 Inc.
Florida Virtual School submitted a per-student price of $4,200 for a student who did not require equipment and $4,950 for a student who would need to be provided equipment such as a computer and printer. The bid from K12 Inc., was $3,995 for a student who does not need equipment and $4,950 for a student needing equipment.
In grades 6-12, the largest discrepancy was nearly $2,000 per student. Advanced Academics, a subsidiary of DeVry Inc., submitted a quote of $3,804 for a student not requiring equipment while Educational Options’ per-student bid was $1,995.
