Lee County Public Schools will launch a full-time, K-12 Virtual Instruction program for the 2009/10 school year, according to Al Shilling, assistant director or emerging technology and virtual education. This is another option for students to complete their education in Lee County.

The Lee Virtual Instruction Program (LVIP) is governed by Florida Statutes 1002.45, which created the option for students to attend State-approved virtual programs as part of the School Choice initiative Shilling said.

To be eligible for the program, students must:

Have been enrolled the prior school year in a Florida public school;

Be the dependent of a member of the military who was transferred in the last 12 months;

or been enrolled and successfully completed one of the State-approved virtual programs.

Registration for the new program starts Wednesday, July 1, and runs through 4 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2009. Students who transfer into the LVIP program from an existing Lee County public school will forfeit their school of choice obtained in the assignment process, and their seat will be given to the next available student, Shilling said.

Parents follow the same registration process used for other District schools, such as proof of required vaccinations, proof of residence, prior enrollment information, etc. The registration process can be accessed online as well as at any of the Student Assignment offices:

Lehigh Acres: 9 Beth Stacey Blvd. Suite 207, 239-337-8347.

Fort Myers: 2855 Colonial Blvd Fort Myers, 239-337-8247;

Cape Coral: 370 Santa Barbara Blvd. North, 239-461-8447.