2019 Day at the Capitol Press Release

OVER 500 PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS TO RALLY AT THE COLORADO STATE CAPITOL IN SUPPORT OF CYBERSCHOOLS AND ONLINE LEARNING

(February 22, 2019) DENVER – Over 500 parents, students and educators from the Colorado Coalition for Cyberschool Families (CCCF) descended today on the Colorado State Capitol to show support for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado. CCCF is a group of committed parents who have come together to be powerful and vocal advocates for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado. Schools of choice are threatened across the country and school choice advocates throughout the state are joining forces to stand up for the right of parents and students to pick the best education for the student and their families.

“The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families believes parents should be trusted with their children’s education decisions and students should have access to the educational options that fit them best,” said Tillie Elvrum, a cyberschool parent and president of CCCF as well as the national president of PublicSchoolOptions. “Students of all backgrounds benefit from cyberschools. Cyberschools serve students with non-traditional schedules due to sports or health issues, students that work full time, students in credit recovery, and students with learning disabilities. The success stories coming out of these schools are inspiring and heartwarming. I am excited to join these students and parents to underscore cyberschools’ vital role in public education.”

 Cyberschools are a critical component of our public school system and allow all types of students access to an education that best meets their needs. Cyberschool students include athletes who want to gain an education while practicing many hours a day, LGBTQ students who have experienced bullying in traditional classrooms, or even students who simply prefer to work at their own pace due to a learning disability or emotional issue. Cyberschools are comprised of students from every walk of life.

“Bullying, differing learning styles and military parents – these are just a few reasons why families choose online schooling for their children,” said Emerald Zietz, a cyberschool parent and board member of CCCF. “My daughter lives with Asperger’s Syndrome and her neighborhood school teachers simply were not equipped to deal with her differences. With online schooling, my daughter embraces her differences without fear of being bullied as her grades, knowledge, and confidence soar.”

At the rally, CCCF will honor four state legislators and Colorado Governor Jared Polis with Golden Apple Awards to recognize their commitment to school choice. This year’s honorees are State Senator Jeff Bridges (D-Littleton), State Senator Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale), State Representative James Coleman (D-Denver), and State Representative Kim Ransom (R-Douglas).

Three cyberschool students and educators spoke at the rally to share their personal experiences and success with cyberschooling. In addition, Senator Jeff Bridges, Senator Bob Rankin, Representative Kim Ransom and Representative James Coleman spoke at the rally to support public school options.

This is Colorado Coalition for Cyberschool Families’ 15th 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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