Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families Hosts the 2021 Cyberschool Day at the Capitol in Honor of Digital Learning Day

Over 230 parents, students, and educators attend virtual rally in support of cyberschools and online learning.

DENVER (February 25, 2020) – Over 230 parents, students and educators virtually gathered today to show support for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado at the Colorado Coalition for Cyberschool Families (CCCF)’s 17th annual Day at the Capitol. The rally coincided with Digital Learning Day, which further promotes online learning.

CCCF is a group of committed parents who unite to be powerful and vocal advocates for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado. The cyberschool Day at the Capitol honors online learning and the climate of innovation so every child in the state will continue to have the educational opportunity they need to thrive.

“This vital school choice option made learning during COVID-19 seamless for thousands of Colorado students,” said Tillie Elvrum, board director of CCCF and former president of the National Coalition for Public School Options. “Many mistake full-time online public schools or cyberschools with crisis/emergency remote teaching when it is the opposite. Cyberschools have been around for decades delivering fully comprehensive and research-based education specializing in engaging students remotely, with curriculum designed to meet accessibility standards. Crisis online learning is inconsistent and hastily built leaving teachers with the responsibility to develop online materials with little or no direction causing schools to struggle to provide a commensurate learning experience for students.”

CCCF held its virtual rally on National Digital Learning Day to bring attention to the importance of online learning. Amid COVID-19, cyberschools delivered continuity and normalcy during the 2019-2020 school year to over 22,000 students across Colorado and continue to for the 2020-2021 school year to over 32,000 students.

At the rally, CCCF honored four state legislators with Golden Apple Awards to recognize their commitment to school choice. This year’s honorees are State Representative Barbara McLachlan (District 59), State Representative Hugh McKean (District 51), State Senator Kevin Priola (District 25), and State Senator Rachel Zenzinger (District 19).

In addition, four cyberschool students shared their personal experiences and success with cyberschooling with the crowd of supporters. The students were Jacelyn Olivieri, senior at Colorado Connections Academy, Denver Lucero, junior at Hope Online at Peak Academy, Oscar Picciano, senior at Monte Vista Online Learning Academy, and Adisyn Pinnt, freshman at GOAL Academy High School. Please find a copy of the student speeches and legislator acceptance speeches here.

Digital Learning Day started in 2012 to promote the exciting things educators are doing with technology. Today, cyberschools across America celebrate the effective use of modern technology tools to improve the learning experience in K-12 public schools.

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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