TALLAHASSEE (Bay News 9) -- Eleven years ago Florida Virtual School launched a pilot program aimed at offering public school courses online.

When the program started there were fewer than 100 students signed up. Now FLVS serves more than 50,000, and state economists are projecting big increases in the years to come.

Olivia Olmstead, 14, has been doing well as a virtual school student.

"I think it's easier because it can be quieter, and you don't have as many distractions," Olivia said.

Olivia's mother, Kathryn, is devoted to home-schooling her kids. But she admits she doesn't know much about teaching classes, such as chemistry and calculus.

"The teachers are really good," Kathryn said. "We do not see what they look like too often, but on the phone, they must be instructed on how to really relate to their students, because every single teacher has just been -- you kind of feel like you get to know them by the end of the course."

Taking classes online is not only convenient for students but also for policymakers.

Tallahassee's grappling with big money problems, and the price tag on virtual school can knock $1,000 off the cost of a traditional education.

And for public schools that don't have the cash to hire teachers who specialize in foreign languages and advanced placement courses, students can turn to virtual school to fill in the gaps.

Home school students, such as Olivia, make up only 20 percent of virtual school enrollment. FLVS is a public-private partnership, which means it's free of charge to Florida parents and their children.

Since the program was pioneered here in Florida a handful of other states, such as West Virginia and Kentucky, have started programs of their own.