2016 Legislative Wrap Up

 Dear Virtual School Parents,

The State Legislature adjourned the 2016 legislative session earlier this month.  But during the short session, virtual public schools were once again the target of state policymakers who don’t understand this important education option.

Legislation introduced by State Rep. Susan McLain would have created a study to evaluate virtual public schools.  Virtual public schools have faced more scrutiny than any other public school and are without question the most transparent and accountable schools in Oregon.  Our schools must comply with dozens of rules over and above those that apply to traditional brick and mortar public schools.  

Thousands of Oregon families have found success for their children in virtual public schools. It’s a vital part of our public school system that gives kids who need an alternative to the traditional classroom a place to get a quality education. But Rep. McLain’s virtual school study bill would have opened the door for opponents of parent choice to limit our access to schools that work for our kids. 

We called on parents to help us defeat this bill.  And you did!  Virtual school parents sent emails and made phone calls to legislators urging them to oppose even more scrutiny of virtual schools. Your voice was heard in the State Capitol!  The House Education Committee held a hearing on this bill, but due to the overwhelming response from parents, the bill never found enough support to advance through the committee!

While we were able to defeat this threat, we need to remain vigilant about protecting virtual public schools.  Our opponents will continue to look for ways to target our schools.  We can’t understand why giving a small number of kids access to a public education in an environment better suited to their needs is so threatening to some. But with your help and through education and coordinated advocacy, we can continue to make a difference for Oregon’s virtual school students.

If you’re motivated to protect this choice for your family and others and you’d like to get more active in our effort, please email us at info@oregonvirtualschools.org.  Parents are a powerful political force, and we will not let our voice be silenced.

Thank you for your help and support.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Kambas
President

www.oregonvirtualschools.org

info@oregonvirtualschools.org

Tell your legislators to oppose virtual school study bill

Dear Virtual Public School Families,

The Oregon State Legislature is at it again.  The 2016 session doesn’t convene until February 1, but virtual public schools are already a target of state policymakers who don’t understand this important education option.

A bill, HB 4091, introduced by State Rep. Susan McLain would create a study to evaluate virtual public schools.  Do we really need another virtual school study?  Virtual public schools have faced more scrutiny than any other type of public school and are without question the most transparent and accountable schools in Oregon. Our schools must comply with dozens of rules over and above those that apply to traditional brick and mortar public schools.  You can view all of these additional requirements here.

Among other things, virtual public schools have additional academic achievement and school performance requirements, limitations on who can serve as an employee or board member of the school, and guaranteed public access to all financial data for the school and its vendors.

Our schools have been studied to death, and each new attempt is yet another opportunity for opponents of parent choice to limit our access to schools that work for our kids. 

Will you take a moment to email your State Senator and State Representative to tell them that virtual public schools are the most highly accountable schools in Oregon and urge their opposition to yet another study?

Just click here and you’ll be taken to an email form.  The basic message is filled out already, but you have the option of creating a personalized introduction and closing.

Then fill out your address and your message will automatically be sent to your Senator and Representative.

With your help we have defeated previous threats to virtual public education. Let’s do it again and tell our State Legislators that virtual public schools are the most accountable schools in the state and don’t require yet another study.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Kambas
President