COALITION UPDATE AND INFORMATION!!!!

There has been much happening in recent weeks that your coalition has been monitoring.  We hope you will take time to review this alert and the articles, as it is likely state policymakers will be taking actions that will have a significant impact on our children’s schools. We MUST be ready to share our points of view with those who will be making decisions about our children’s educational future. We hope we can count on you to help!

In this email:

Commission on Online Learning releases draft report

State Board of Education Task Force

Coalition releases “Parental Pillars for Public Cyberschools”

BECOME A CYBERADVOCATE TODAY!!!

Cyberschool Day at Capitol, March 8

News roundup

Upcoming events

Commission on Online Learning releases draft report

A commission formed to review online K-12 learning in Colorado released a draft of its findings and recommendations on January 26, 2007.  The Coalition of Cyberschool Families had submitted verbal and written testimony to the Commission at their public hearing on Jan. 8, 2007.

The report from the Trujillo Commission on Online Education, named after its chair, University of Colorado School of Law Assistant Dean Lorenzo Trujillo, can be found online at http://www.dkfoundation.org/PDF/Jan_26_2007-OnlineEdDraftReport.pdf .  The commission will release its final recommendations on Feb. 15.  It is expected that proposed legislation based on the Commission’s recommendations, to be introduced by Sen. Sue Windels (D-Arvada), will follow.  Stay tuned to the Coalition’s website and your email to see what this legislation looks like, and the Coalition’s position on it!!!

State Board of Education Task Force

In addition, the State Board of Education has convened a Task Force on Online Learning which also expects to release recommendations for proposed legislation sometime in February.  The Coalition has also submitted testimony to this Task Force, and will be asking for meetings with the members of the Task Force in the next few weeks so that our voice will be heard!!!!

Coalition releases “Parental Principles for Public Cyberschools”

The Coalition has released a statement of exactly what policymakers should keep in mind when proposing reforms for full-time public online schools.  This document will be sent to all legislators and policymakers who have a say in any proposed legislation, and advocates from the Coalition will be meeting with those legislators and policymakers to make sure they understand where we stand!!!!  If you would like to be an advocate for your cyberschool, and communicate these principles to policymakers, please contact the Coalition!!!  We need you!!!

CYBERADVOCATES NEEDED!!!

As you can see from this email, there are lots of things happening that will affect cyberschools for decades to come!  We need your voices to influence policymakers and legislators.  They need to hear from parents so that their decisions don’t end up hurting our schools and our children.  Please sign up to be a cyberadvocate today!!!  We offer training, support and real satisfaction!!!  CLICK HERE TO BECOME A CYBERADVOCATE RIGHT NOW!!

Cyberschool Day at Capitol, March 8, 2007

Come show support for your choice in schooling and help our legislators and others at our state capitol to see the value of the Cyber Schooling option. This is an important time to show your support! The more people who show up, the clearer it becomes that this kind of schooling is a valuable benefit to so many different kinds of students in Colorado.  So plan to be at the Capitol on Thursday, March 8, 2007, starting at 9:00 a.m.!!!  Contact your teacher or school to RSVP and learn about their Cyberschool Day events!!!

News roundup

Here are some of the articles that have appeared recently. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the issues that we will be confronting.  Remember, there’s nothing more powerful than a parent empowered with information!!

Dems eye Net schools' funding  1/26/07, Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5089699

Panel clicks on Net schools, 1/23/07, Denver Post,

Groups tackle online schools, 1/19/07, The Coloradoan,

State needs clear standards for online learning, 1/14/07, Pueblo Chieftain,

Panel to eye problems with online education, 1/11/07, Rocky Mountain News,

Students defend online learning, 1/8/07, Denver Post,

Upcoming events

Defining School Quality: Government or the Marketplace?  A Special Presentation by State Board of Education Member Bob Schaeffer, sponsored by the Independence Institute, Friday, February 9, 2007, 5:30 PM, see www.i2i.org for more information and to rsvp.

The State Board of Education Task Force on online learning will meet again on 2/12/07    3:00 – 5:30 p.m, Dept. of Education Building, 201 E. Colfax, across from the Capitol.