CYBERSCHOOL DAY AT THE CAPITOL IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 7, 2008!!!

Please set your calendars for the 2008 Cyberschool Day at the Capitol!!!  We have set the date for Thursday, February 7, 2008, and will be contacting all the schools with information in the coming months!!  Stay tuned to the website for the exciting agenda!

COALITION BOARD TO MEET WITH NEW COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

President Lori Cooney sent a letter of welcome to the new Commissioner of Education, Dwight Jones, who took office at the beginning of July.  The letter had requested a meeting with Commissioner Jones, to talk with him about the concerns of cyberschool parents regarding the new online division within the Department of Education, as well as general cyberschool issues.  We are happy to report that the meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 23, and that the members of the board are very excited to meet the new Commissioner!!  We will report on the meeting immediately after!

REP. TERRENCE CARROLL RECOMMENDS OUR COALITION PRESIDENT FOR NEW ONLINE ADVISORY BOARD!

Rep. Terrence Carroll (D-Denver), a champion of cyberschools, has written a letter of recommendation to the Governor for our Coalition President, Lori Cooney, for the slot of parent representative on the new Online Advisory Board.  This Board was created by the legislation recently signed by the Governor, SB215, and will consist of several experts in online education, as well as teachers and parents.  Who would be a better parent representative than the President of the statewide Coalition which represents all cyberschool parents?

We're still waiting to see who is appointed to this board by the Governor, so let's keep calling and emailing him to recommend that he appoint our Coalition President, Lori Cooney, to the new Online Advisory Board!!! Governor Ritter can be reached at 303-866-2471 or Governor.Ritter@state.co.us.

NEW REPORT FROM EDUCATION SECTOR ON VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOLS

A new report has just been released by Education Sector entitled "Laboratories of Reform: Virtual High Schools and Innovation in Public Education".  Recommended reading for anyone interested in cyber high schools!  You can find the report at http://www.educationsector.org/research/research_show.htm?doc_id=502307.

CYBERSCHOOLS IN THE NEWS!!!

Online academy aids 30 students in area

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/NEWS01/707100309/1002

Net school casting for students

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6300459

Colorado's new chief educator ready for work

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=72902

BRANSON ONLINE FEATURED ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS!!

NBC News Transcripts

July 3, 2007 Tuesday

SHOW: NBC Nightly News 6:30 PM EST NBC

What Works; Cyber-school helps rural communities educate students online

ANCHORS: BRIAN WILLIAMS

REPORTERS: KEVIN TIBBLES

LENGTH: 385 words

Announcer: WHAT WORKS, brought to you by...

BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:

Now to our WHAT WORKS series of reports. If you think you have to live in a tech savvy area to be tech sevvy--tech savvy that is, you would be mistaken. And tonight an example of a rural American community that is proving that notion wrong. It's a story about computers doing good and bringing the world closer, just when it seemed so far away. Here is NBC's Kevin Tibbles.

KEVIN TIBBLES reporting:

Tiny Branson, Colorado, is living proof the information highway can take you anywhere.

Mr. TROY MAYFIELD (Branson Online School Superintendent): If the school wasn't open, the town probably would no longer exist.

TIBBLES: Faced with declining enrollment at its traditional schoolhouse, Branson started offering an online public school education to students in far-flung corners of the state. Branson's population may number only 100, but via the Internet, 850 kids go to school here. Tax dollars buy computers instead of blackboards. Eighty-grader Riley South is a cyber-student.

Mr. RILEY SOUTH: The best part is is I can get my schoolwork done a lot earlier and I can get my horses exercised and rode every day.

TIBBLES: Riley lives 165 miles north on a ranch in Penrose, Colorado.

Ms. YVONNE SOUTH (Riley's Mother): He gets in on the computer usually between 6:30 and 7 and gets busy with his schoolwork. I don't have to chase him around too much to keep him on task.

TIBBLES: While many online schools perform well, the concept is attracting a lot of scrutiny, and some schools like Branson have been criticized for having weak test results.

Mr. JOHN WATSON (Online Schools Consultant): They're starting to put better oversight mechanisms into place, but quite a few states have a ways to go to get those in place.

TIBBLES: And online education is not for everyone. Students must be self-starters, and parents must watch them closely. But when it works, everyone benefits.

Ms. CHRISTINE NARAYAN (Branson Online Teacher): I had no idea how connected I would be with my students, speaking with them every single week, one on one.

Mr. MAYFIELD: Good teaching is still good teaching. The only difference is how do we deliver it.

TIBBLES: And doing it online keeps a small town and small school thriving into the future. Kevin Tibbles, NBC News, at cyber-school.

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