Putnam County School District officials told the school board at a July workshop they will begin next week to offer contracted services for students using the Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship, expand Putnam Virtual School and Putnam Flex supports, and continue a partnership with Road Heaver Boys Ranch to keep students earning credits and returning to the district.

The change matters because PEP funds flow into education savings accounts (ESA) managed by Step Up For Students and can be used to pay a district directly for on‑campus or virtual coursework. District staff said those payments are handled by direct invoice from the district to the family’s ESA rather than by reporting those students for FTE (full‑time equivalent) funding.

Bonnie Putnam, facilitator at Putnam Virtual School, described academic progress among students at the Boys Ranch after the district set up on‑site enrollment and supports. "We saw great success," Putnam said, citing testing progress: early monitoring showed multiple low scores but by the end of year assessments several students had moved up one or more performance levels and multiple students passed end‑of‑course exams in U.S. history, biology and civics. Putnam also reported 15 total graduates from the virtual program this year, including two who finished early and nine with GPAs of 3.0 or higher; five had college acceptances.

Mary Wood, administrator of school choice and principal of Putnam Virtual School, described how Putnam Flex and the virtual program have allowed students to remain connected to the district when full‑time campus attendance is not possible. "These students are all Putnam students," Wood said. She told the board that Putnam Flex served homeschool families and students needing flexibility, and that the district provided weekly progress reports showing minutes active online and course completion status so families could clearly see student work.

Staff provided multiple program metrics to the board: Putnam Virtual School enrollment was stated as "7,004"; across virtual and flex offerings 667 of 1,369 course attempts were completed this year; the homeschool pathway using Putnam Flex had a 44 percent completion rate; staff reported that 84 percent of 19 "cross‑entity" arrangements met expectations; and 16 of 19 expelled students were given the opportunity to enroll in Putnam Flex rather than be left without district services. In May of the prior school year staff said 185 Putnam County students had a PEP scholarship.

Staff described several program types and limits. Cross‑entity arrangements allow a student to remain enrolled at their zoned school while taking instruction off campus through the district’s virtual courses; principals must request that arrangement. Putnam Flex provided a way to accept midyear entrants and to offer quarter‑based assignments that differ from semester‑based virtual providers such as Florida Virtual School (FLVS). For PEP contracted services the district will initially offer on‑campus options for grades 7–12 only and virtual courses K–12; transportation will not be provided.

District policy and procedures were discussed: families who accept a PEP scholarship must withdraw from their current public or private school and terminate district home‑education registration before contracting for district services. Families complete an online request form, district staff negotiate available on‑campus or virtual services, then hold a face‑to‑face contract meeting. The district’s fee structure is designed to be "all inclusive," covering course cost, materials and administrative overhead; families may use ESA funds to pay the district by approving the district’s invoice through the Step Up For Students platform. The district emphasized a 14‑day withdrawal window and behavioral expectations: contracted students must follow the district student code of conduct.

On accountability and funding, staff said PEP students served via contracted services will not be counted for district FTE. Instead, the district will be paid directly from the student’s ESA after invoicing and platform approval. Staff noted families can also use ESA funds for approved reimbursable expenses, subject to Step Up For Students’ rules and audit.

Board members asked about special education and counseling for expelled students. Putnam staff said some students have had alternative assessments and that counseling and pre‑expulsion conferences are part of the process; the expulsion committee can recommend mental‑health supports. Staff also described an unexpected partnership with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to place certain detained juveniles on Putnam Flex so they can earn course time while in custody.

The district plans to publish a PEP information page on its website next week, begin accepting contracted families immediately after the July 4 recess, and to refine fees and procedures based on experience in year one. Staff offered district contact information for families who want help enrolling or exploring options.