Dear Virtual Public School Families,
Over the last several weeks we have all returned to the “classroom.” This is an exciting time of year for students and parents. My name is Jennifer Kambas and I am the President of the Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance (OVPSA), a coalition of virtual school families and supporters dedicated to the long-term viability of virtual public schools in Oregon. My daughter, Elizabeth, has attended a virtual public school for the last six years. This year she begins her senior year in a virtual public high school. During the past six years I have been actively involved in advocating on behalf of Oregon virtual public school families.
I want to commend my predecessor, Steven Isaacs, and all our parents who have worked hard to educate state policymakers about the importance of virtual public schools. The Oregon State Legislature will continue to debate virtual public education during the 2016 legislative session and it is important that we remain vigilant in our efforts to advocate for our schools. There are some who oppose public school options like virtual charters and have attempted to limit enrollment or cut funding. We have successfully managed to beat back these efforts thanks to our parents’ involvement.
I urge you to go to our website and sign up for our updates about the public debate surrounding virtual education and be sure to Like our Facebook page. I also encourage you to attend our Virtual Schools Capitol Day, which will be held in Salem on February 24, 2016. This is a great opportunity to meet other virtual school families and learn about our state government. You can click here to learn more about Capitol Day and to register to attend.
Our mission is to provide parent access and choice in virtual public schools, ensure sustainable funding, insist on quality programs and demand accountability from both the public school system and our schools. If we are to continue to make progress towards these founding principles, your parent voice needs to be a part of the public debate. Otherwise state policymakers will only hear from those who may not have our children’s interest at heart.
Thanks for your support. I look forward to working with you to protect and promote virtual public schools in Oregon. If you’d like to play an active role in advocating for our schools, please email me and I will let you know how you can get involved.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Kambas
President