We hope you are having a wonderful school year. With the legislative session just around the corner, we are busy planning advocacy activities to help protect our choice in public education - online public schools. We have a lot of exciting updates this month, read on to learn about what we have been up to. Keep your eye on your inbox and on the Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families (CCCF) website for updates and exciting opportunities for members. 

Election 2008

We would like to congratulate all the new Colorado legislators and all returning legislators. We have posted the new 2009 legislative directory on the CCCF home page, please take a minute to send a note to your legislator congratulating them and providing some information on CCCF. Let's remind them about who we are and why we love our cyberschools!

New Board Members

We are pleased to announce two new Board members to the CCCF Board of Directors.

Jesse Salazar and April Riggs are both passionate advocates for Colorado cyberschools. Welcome Jesse and April - we look forward to working with you!

Video Contest

We have officially launched our first ever video contest! Enter the contest and tell us why you love your public online school. Winners will receive a $500 college savings account from CCCF and CollegeInvest.

For more information visit the homepage of the CCCF website: http://www.coloradocyberfamilies.org/

National Coalition for Public School Options

The National Coalition for Public School Options was launched last month in Phoenix, Arizona at the North American Council for Online Learning Virtual School Symposium.  The Coalition supports the creation of public school options, including charter schools, online schools, magnet schools, open enrollment policies and other innovative education programs. 

The founding board members include our very own Lori Cooney, President; Christine Beard of Ohio, Vice President; and Briana LeClaire of Idaho, Secretary/Treasurer.

This coalition is a great new voice for school choice. You can join the Coalition or learn more at http://www.publicschooloptions.org/.

Keeping Pace with K12 Online Learning

The 2008 Keeping Pace with K12 Online Learning report was released in October.  The report contains thorough and up-to-date information on virtual schooling, including funding information and information on the status of virtual learning in each state. Read about the report or download it at http://www.kpk12.com/.

CollegeInvest Grandparents Scholarship Contest

CollegeInvest will award three $2,500 college savings plans to grandchildren of grandparents who submit an essay of 250 words or fewer answering the question: "What are your hopes or dreams for your grandchild or grandchildren and how would a college education help make those possible?"

The essay contest is open to Colorado residents with grandchildren or great-grandchildren 12 years old or younger. To receive an entry form, go to www.collegeinvest.org/grandparents, call 1-877-285-0018 or e-mail your full name and mailing address to grandparents@collegeinvest.org. Essays must be entered online or postmarked by Wednesday, December 31.

Joint Budget Committee

The Joint Budget Committee will meet on December 9^th from 1:30pm - 5:00pm for a briefing for the Department of Education.  The Joint Budget Committee will also hold a hearing for the Department of Education on December 15^th from 9:00am - 12:00pm.  We expect cyberschools funding to be part of both of these discussions. 

Coalition members can listen in online:

• Visit http://www.leg.state.co.us/
• Click on "Video/Audio Broadcasts of Current Proceedings"
• Scroll down and click on "Joint Budget Committee Room"

Online Learning Advisory Board

The next Online Learning Advisory Board Meeting (OLAB) has been postponed until January. We will provide details when we know more.

Reminders

Last but not least, we encourage you to spread the word, get involved and stay engaged with CCCF!  Ways you can help:

• Day at the Capitol is in Denver on Tuesday, February 24^th.

• Tell other parents about the Coalition and encourage them to join.
• Volunteer to testify during the legislative session.
• Attend OLAB meetings.
• Tell us about some of the great things you are doing - send us your pictures and stories to share with legislators and the media and post on our website. Send us an email at families@coloradocyberfamilies.org.

<< back