These schools have their roots in traditional correspondence distance education but are rapidly undergoing change to provide online (or internet) course delivery.

Two new areas of growth are adult learners and students who continue to attend regular "brick and mortar" schools.

FVDES's online and paper-based programs offer different features and different ways of learning.

FVDES is dedicated to offering individual teachers for each course, rather than providing non-specialist tutors.

Other developments at FVDES include an expanded number of field trips (for example, swimming, skiing, geocaching, skating) and regularly scheduled art-based activities.