Governor Signs Bill Expanding Virtual Public Schools

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.

Less than three years ago there was a serious attempt by virtual school opponents to shut down our schools. Thanks to the hard work and strong voices of parents across the state, we were able to beat back these attacks and preserve the status quo. Now, however, parents who have been denied or put on waiting lists will no longer have to suffer in limbo as their children fall through the cracks of our public school system.

HB 2301 will raise the enrollment caps on existing virtual public schools like the Oregon Virtual Academy and Oregon Connections Academy, eliminate the requirement that parents receive approval from their home district to go to a virtual school, and remove geographic quotas that kept many kids from qualifying for these schools. In short, it will liberate families to make the education choice that best suits their needs. What a victory!

Thank you for your work as parent advocates, but we can't celebrate for too long. There is much to do. Now that we have expanded access to virtual public schools for more families, we need to hold those gains.

Please invite new families that you encounter to join our coalition by signing up on our website to receive our communications. Through education and coordinated advocacy, we can continue to make a difference for our kids.

Have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you in the fall!

Sincerely,

Cindy McGraw
President