Global Alliance
for Transnational Education Honors Florida Virtual
School Executive Director Julie Young
Global
Alliance for Transnational Education Honors Florida
Virtual School Executive Director Julie Young
Paris, FRANCE (Sept.
20, 2002) - The Global Alliance for Transnational
Education® (GATE®), an international
alliance of business, higher education and government
organizations concerned with issues relating to
quality assurance in transnational education, awarded
the "Medallion of the Alliance" to Julie
E. Young, executive director of the Florida Virtual
School (FLVS), in recognition of her contributions
to online learning. Young pioneered the launch of
FLVS, the first statewide, online secondary school
in the United States. With over 10,000 enrollments
expected in the 2002-2003 school year, FLVS is the
largest online high school in the world.
The Medallion of the Alliance is an award originated
by Jones International(™), Ltd. and granted
to individuals in the industries in which the Jones
companies operate who have demonstrated exceptional
commitment, competence and accomplishment. Previous
recipients of the award include Dr. Pamela Pease,
president of Jones International University®,
the first fully online university to receive regional
accreditation. Regional accreditation is the highest
level of accreditation a university can obtain and
is recognized throughout the United States. Dr.
Pease participated in the Sept. 19 presentation
of the Medallion to Young at the Palace of Versailles,
where Glenn R. Jones was hosting the Chairman's
Dinner as part of the seventh annual GATE conference.
The conference was held Sept. 18-20 in Paris.
"For their foresight in creating Florida Virtual
School and their subsequent support, we congratulate
Gov. Jeb Bush, the members of the Florida Legislature,
the Florida Secretary of Education and their respective
staffs," said Jones, chairman and CEO of GATE
and Jones International, Ltd. "On bestowing
the Medallion of the Alliance, however, we especially
single out and congratulate Julie Young for the
stellar leadership, creativity, dedication and passion
she displayed in converting the idea of FLVS into
a reality. It is an example-with global implications-of
what can be done by fusing technology with education.
"By her actions, Ms. Young has contributed
monumentally to making the concept of the virtual
secondary school visible so that others may see
its potential," Jones continued. "She
has made a major contribution in showing us how
to actualize the idea of 'no child left behind.'"
Young pioneered the launch of FLVS with the goal
of developing and providing access to high quality,
online courses to students throughout the state
of Florida. In the 1997-1998 school year, it was
initiated by a grant from the Florida Department
of Education and began with a staff of 18 and 11
online courses, serving 150 students.
Today, FLVS is an award-winning provider of Internet-based
courseware for high school students in Florida and
elsewhere, and its enrollments are projected to
reach 10,200 for the 2002-03 school year. It has
an instructional staff of 120, offers 65 courses,
including honors and ten Advanced Placement courses
and is affiliated with all 67 school districts in
Florida, as well as numerous charter and non-public
schools. It has an 80 percent completion rate and
its students have exceeded both the grade point
average and Advanced Placement scores of the average
Florida student.
"Democratizing education on a global basis
is the very core of GATE's existence," said
Jones, "and online education is a powerful
tool for furthering that cause. Accordingly, we
thank Julie Young for what she has done and hereby
commend her for doing it."
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About GATE®
Founded in 1995, Global Alliance for Transnational
Education®, Ltd. is an association of businesses,
educators, quality-assurance agencies, governments,
and intergovernmental organizations that nurtures
and sustains communication among education and training
leaders worldwide. The organization's objectives
are to develop and promulgate principles of good
practice and accrediting quality transnational education
and training programs; explore issues facing educational
institutions in a global marketplace; provide a
forum for corporations, governmental and intergovernmental
entities, and educational associations and institutions
to discuss education and training issues; access
global information about educational systems and
trends in technology-driven education; and ensure
that transnational education standards keep pace
with technological change. GATE is a subsidiary
of Jones International(™),
Ltd. GATE's international headquarters are at 9697
E. Mineral Ave., Englewood, Colo., 80112, U.S.A.
Telephone: +1.303.792.3111. Web site: www.edugate.org.
E-mail: gate@edugate.org.
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About
Florida Virtual School (FLVS)
Florida Virtual School is
an internet-based, public high school offering online
high school curriculum. The Florida Legislature
initially funded FLVS as a pilot project in 1997
to begin course development with limited student
enrollment. In 2000, the Florida Legislature enacted
228.082, FL Statute, establishing FLVS as an independent
education entity with a Gubernatorial appointed
governing board. FLVS is a 21st Century leader in
education and is a nationally recognized e-Learning
model.
Internet Users: FLVS news
releases, contacts and other useful information
are available on FLVS' Web site at www.flvs.net.
To receive news releases by e-mail or to request
that specific information be mailed to you, please
email us at info@flvs.net
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