January 2013

WELCOME!
We have said we are looking forward to a bigger and better 2013 and January is getting us off to a busy start! We look forward to our first Capitol Day of the year on January 30 in Virginia. This will be the first Capitol Day in Richmond and with Governor McDonnells focus on education reform, we look forward to this important opportunity to make sure we are part of the discussion. We will also close out January in the midst of National School Choice Week. This annual week of events is held to raise the level of public awareness of school choice, demonstrating to the nation that the school choice movement is large and diverse. PublicSchoolOptions.org President Jennifer Roy will be participating in a number of events throughout the week. If you cant attend an event but want to be part of the discussion, share your story on ourFacebook page and tell our community why public school options matter so much to your family. Be sure to check out our blog and Facebook page for updates on all of these events and for news on other upcoming events during this already busy year. Every voice matters and we hope you come out and share your story!

Table of Contents
Making Friends as an Online Student Meeting the Demand in California and Texas Coming to a Statehouse Near You! Upcoming Events

In The Spotlight

School Choice is "Emerging Issue" of the Month for Heartland Institute

Making Friends as an Online Student

As the number of families turning to online learning continues to grow, many question whether online students are as socialized as their traditional brick-and-mortar counterparts. College student and former online high school graduate, Rachel S. hopes to set the record straight in a piece she wrote for her composition class. Click "Read More" below for Rachel's story!

School choice was the topic of conversation for The Heartland Institutes January edition of its monthly Emerging Issues series. These monthly conversations are designed to bring state legislators together to discuss some of the most important matters in public policy. Click below to listen!

Colorado Virtual Academy graduate Rachel S.

A Day in the Life of an Online Student Cheers to the California Virtual Academy and the Watson family for welcoming a reporter into their home to help others understand they day in the life of a virtual academy student. Book reports, multiplication games, spelling tests that all sounds like a pretty normal school day to us!

Meeting the Demand in California and Texas

The Center for School Options (CfSO) released a report on January 8 examining charter schools in Floridas ten largest counties. The report graded the counties on such things as, availability of charter schools, enrollment in public charter schools, enrollment in other school choice options, total choice users, and percent of students wait-listed for charter seats. While 27 percent of students in Dade County, Floridas largest county, are enrolled in charter schools, the county received a C for its lack of ability to meet demand. Currently, over 20,500 students are waitlisted in the county, even though the county received 93 applications for

On Our Reading List StudentsFirst CEO Michelle Rhee and board member Joel Kline penned a joint columnfor CNN's "Schools of Thought" blog on their new report that grades states on public policy. In the joint column they write, These arent teacher problems, or student problems. These are policy problems. In far too

charter schools in 2011. Only one quarter of the applications were approved. CfSO also released a policy brief on the need to expand access to public school options in Texas this year. Texas lawmakers are considering legislation this year on how to increase availability and quality of charter schools in the state. The group suggests multiple authorizers, regulatory flexibility, statewide open enrollment, and equitable funding be considered to make the current charter law more robust.

many states, the laws and policies in place that govern education put up significant barriers to higher student achievement." As the number of families choosing charter and alternative school options grows, we agree that bad state policies are holding too many students back by limiting options and restricting enrollment. All Eyes on Texas Among the states PublicSchoolOptions.org is watching closely this year is Texas (read here and here). As we show why the issue matters so much to families in the Lone Star State, Texas Insider provides a good summary of where things stand at the start of this legislative session. These are encouraging words and the time is now for leaders in the state to embrace school options. Beth Purcell on Online Myths PublicSchoolOptions.org Vice President Beth Purcell debunked the mythsof online learning in a guest column this month on GettingSmart.com.

PublicSchoolOptions.org is Coming to a Statehouse Near You!

Late winter/early spring is an exciting time for PublicSchoolOptions.org. This time of year provides us with the opportunity to bring thousands of parents from across the country to their state capitols for a day of education, promotion of school choice issues, and most importantly fun! PublicSchoolOptions.org is looking forward to being a part of Capitol Day events in 24 states! Check out the Upcoming Events section below to learn more information about the first way of Capitol Days taking place in January and February. Dont see your state listed? Contact us at info@publicschooloptions.org to learn when PublicSchoolOptions.org will be coming to your statehouse!

Families braved the cold to have their voices heard on the steps of the statehouse in Denver last year.

Upcoming Events

We'd Love to Hear from You! We are always looking for content for our monthly newsletter and blog! Please share your stories or topic ideas byemailing us!

January 23: The Louisiana Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org will be hosting bowling events in Baton Rouge and New Orleans January 30: The Virginia Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org will be hosting their annual School Choice Day at the Capitol in Richmond February 6: The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families will be hosting their annual Day at the Capitol in Denver February 6: The Wyoming Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org will be hosting their annual Day at the Capitol in Cheyenne February 21: The Utah Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org will be hosting their annual Day at the Capitol in Salt Lake City For more information about these and any other upcoming events possibly coming to a city near you, please email us.