Latest News

Spending $2,159 Less Per Student, Online School Outscores Florida Campuses on AP Exams
Monday, January 23, 2012
Online students at Florida Virtual School outperformed their traditional-school peers on Advanced Placement tests in 2011, and at less cost, new studies show.

Can States and School Districts Cut Costs Through Digital Learning?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Digital learning represents wide-open terrain for K-12 education reform. Several states -- Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Michigan and Minnesota -- require students to take an online course to receive a high school degree. Twenty-seven states have established statewide full-time virtual schools since the first opened in 1997 in Florida, according to a report by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, an indication of virtual education's growing appeal.

Opposition to Online Charters Misguided
Thursday, January 12, 2012
To most people, eliminating artificial caps on the number of Michigan students allowed to benefit from online public charter schools seems like a no-brainer. Indeed, many people I talk to are surprised to learn such caps exist, and puzzled by some politicians in the state House working to stop or water-down a bill eliminating the caps. The legislation has already passed the state Senate.

Virginia Governor Unveils 2012 Education Reform Agenda
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell yesterday announced an expansive education reform agenda for the 2012 legislative session that is poised to significantly expand educational options through creation of a scholarship tax credit program for the state's low-income families.

More than 120 Events Planned for National School Choice Week
Monday, January 9, 2012
Hundreds of organizations from across the country are planning more than 120 events to celebrate the second-annual National School Choice Week, January 22-28, 2012, organizers announced today.

Experts Weigh In
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
In response to yesterday's biased and unfounded attack on parent choice by the New York Times, the National Coalition of Public School Options amassed a collection of blogs and statements by actual education experts poking holes in the Times' "story."

Times Misses the Mark Again
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The New York Times ran a long story attacking K12, Inc. and online learning today. It is part of a series of hit pieces targeting private companies supporting innovations in learning that salaciously lift worst-case examples and present them as representative. Maybe this is what tabloids do, but we used to expect more of the Times.

Outdated thinking stands in the way of online learning
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Enrollment in online schools is growing nationally by about 30% each year. Unfortunately, outdated rules and regulations in Michigan stand in the way of schools unleashing the full potential of digital learning.

Online High Schools Attracting Elite Names
Saturday, November 19, 2011
In June, about 30 seniors will graduate from a little-known online high school currently called the Education Program for Gifted Youth. But their diplomas will bear a different name: Stanford Online High School.

Make the Grade with Online Options
Monday, November 14, 2011
Kids today learn how to use a computer or a video game system before they can even read or write, yet states are not taking advantage of this kind of technology in education, according to the Nation's Digital Learning Council.

Idaho Online Class Requirement For High School Graduation Gets Board Approval
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Education officials on Thursday gave final approval to a plan that makes Idaho the first state in the nation to require high school students to take at least two credits online to graduate, despite heavy criticism of the plan at public hearings this summer.

Charter Schools - The True Purple Solution to Public Education
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
In the 1960s, the late New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D) used conservative, market-based, competitive forces to renew and create new jobs in the inner-city wasteland of the minority neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. A cynical New York City reporter (a redundant expression) was heard to mutter, as he heard Kennedy's pro-market, pro-business ideas to help the poor, "You sound like Barry Goldwater." Legend has it that Kennedy responded: "Maybe, but I know that I mean it."

The Steve Jobs Model for Education Reform
Saturday, October 15, 2011
These days everyone is for education reform. The question is which approach is best. I favor the Steve Jobs model.

Putting Parents in Charge
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Peg Tyre is the author of "The Good School: How Smart Parents Get Their Kids the Education They Deserve."

Why States Should Contract with Multiple Providers
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Internet has improved the public provision of services in a variety of ways and it is beginning to transform public education. The power of personal digital learning suggests that it doesn't make sense to limit our children's opportunity to learn to a local school or geographically defined school district.

Oregon teachers union hands out harsh grades, even to longtime legislative allies
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Oregon Education Association scorecard for the 2011 legislative session looks something like the report card received by John Belushi's wayward fraternity in "Animal House:"

A promising shake-up Legislature approves far-reaching education reforms
Thursday, June 23, 2011
If ever there was a moment of opportunity for productive change in Oregon's education system, it came during this year's legislative session. The state's financial condition would not allow education at any level to be improved by spending more money. The only alternative to an eroding status quo was to make structural changes. On Tuesday the Legislature chose that option by approving the most comprehensive shake-up of Oregon's education system in decades.

Historic Education Bills Pass Legislature
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Some are calling this session one that could go down in the history books for education reform. Tuesday lawmakers blessed a package of 14 education bills; both parties are calling it a victory. State Representative Jason Conger of Bend: "It will likely represent the most fundamental education reform in Oregon history."

Don't bow to defenders of status-quo schools
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Legislators should not let the teachers union blow up a package of reforms The most important school reforms in a generation are hanging in the balance in the Legislature. And the teachers union has put its heavy thumb on the side of the status quo.

 

Recent Newsletters

Oregon Parent Coalition Releases Survey on Socialization
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
85% of Oregon children enrolled in full-time virtual public schools spend at least one hour each day engaged in an extra-curricular activity outside the home and at least one hour each day socializing with peers, according to a survey released by the Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance. The findings run counter to a popular myth about full-time virtual schools: that kids are stuck at home all day in front of a computer screen and don't learn important socialization skills.

How can you protect your virtual public school?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thank you for your ongoing support of the Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance. As you know, we are a coalition of virtual school families and supporters dedicated to the long-term viability of our schools in Oregon.

Governor Signs Bill Expanding Virtual Public Schools
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Yesterday, Governor Kitzhaber signed House Bill 2301 into law. This is a historic day for supporters of virtual public schools and for parents who struggle to find an education system that works for them.

Legislature Approves Virtual School Bill
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Well, we did it. With the help of new and strong leadership in the Oregon State Capitol, House Bill 2301 passed both the House and Senate and will soon be signed by the Governor. What an amazing time.

Parent Coalition President published in Oregonian in support of virtual schools
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Oregonian recently published a guest opinion by Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance President Cindy McGraw. Please comment at the bottom of the article to show your support for virtual public schools and urge their continued availability to children across Oregon.