2017 Day at the Capitol Press Release

OVER 650 PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS RALLY AT THE COLORADO STATE CAPITOL TO ADVOCATE FOR CYBERSCHOOLS AND ONLINE LEARNING

DENVER, February 16, 2017 – Over 650 parents, students, and educators from the Colorado Coalition for Cyberschool Families (CCCF) took the Colorado State Capitol by storm to show support for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado. Cyberschools, which educated over 16,000 Colorado students last year, and other public schools of choice are threatened across the country.

“From budget cuts to different accountability standards for different schools, parental choice is under attack,” said Tillie Elvrum, national President of PublicSchoolOptions.org and board member of CCCF. “Behind every cyberschool student is a parent who has undoubtedly fought for their right to choose the school that best meets their student’s educational needs, which can vary greatly.”

Cyberschool students can be elite athletes who use cyberschools to gain an education while practicing many hours per day, or LGBTQ students who have experienced bullying in traditional classrooms, or students with weakened immune systems due to serious disease that cannot be exposed to germs in a typical school. Sometimes cyberschool students simply prefer to work at their own pace due to a learning disability or an emotional issue.

“Having a choice in schooling has provided our sons with opportunities they couldn’t pursue in a brick and mortar classroom,” said Danielle Williams, a cyberschool parent and board member of CCCF. “Our oldest, at 10, is already making plans to attend MIT. Our youngest, who has struggled with reading comprehension, now reads at an advanced level. We are so thankful for the ability to choose the best school options for our children.”

At the rally, CCCF also honored four legislators with Golden Apple Awards, which recognize legislators who have shown a commitment to school choice. This year’s honorees were State Senator Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora), State Senator Tim Neville (R-Littleton), State Representative Janet Buckner (D-Aurora), and State Representative Lang Sias (R-Arvada).

In addition to the rally held on the West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol, the cyberschool families also heard a legislative update, visited with their legislators, and offered demonstrations of cyberschool lessons. This was CCCF’s eighth annual Day at the Capitol.

About the Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families

The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families is a group of committed parents who have united to be powerful and vocal advocates for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado. The coalition believes that all children should have free and equal access to public online schools without restrictions. For additional information on CCCF, please visit www.coloradocyberfamilies.org.

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