The mission of the Florida Learning Alliance (FLA) is to increase academic achievement for students in rural and small school districts through distance learning and other innovative educational strategies.

FLA was created in 1998 by the three regional consortia that represent the 34 rural school districts and the Florida Virtual School, including:

• The Heartland Educational Consortium (HEC), representing 6 school districts
• The North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC), representing 13 school districts
• The Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC), representing 14 school districts, and
• The Florida Virtual School (FLVS), which offers online courses to all students eligible for high school credit in affiliated school districts in Florida

FLA's major funding is from the U.S. Department of Education through a Technology Innovation Challenge Grant. The 5-year, $10 million dollar grant is being used to develop a telecommunications network and course offerings, as well as teacher training and other benefits to enhance the educational programs in its member districts.

The last day of the grant is June 3, 2004. FLA, as a federal grant, will provide not provide funding for district’s involved with the Schools and Libraries Division’s E-rate program. Hence, where it had been assisting its districts with some bills associated with the E-rate program e.g. E-rate related non-discounted portion of some telecommunications bills, it will no longer do that effective June 3, 2004. In addition, FLA will not submit a Year 7 E-rate application (2004-2005).

The Bureau of Educational Technology staff works closely with FLA and its consortia. The Bureau staff also participates as members of FLA's various committees.