At the heart of debates around education freedom and school choice is the subtle but sinister sentiment that parents can’t be trusted. They are too busy, too poor, or too ignorant to make the right decisions for their kids, and others know better how to raise and educate children. Never mind that parents have successfully cared for and educated their children for millennia, ensuring the ongoing survival and continued success of our species.

On June 30, the Oregon State Legislature adjourned the 2019 legislative session. During the long session, legislators considered bills that allocated new funding for K-12 education, addressed rent control, banned grocery stores and restaurants from using disposable plastic bags, created a new paid family medical leave policy, and many other issues.

“I truly believe what I have learned at Oregon Connections Academy is going to be a foundation for me going forward,” senior Lawrence Winowiecki said. “It helped cement a lot of ideas for me in how I see the world.”

I have an important question for you: How did you hear about your virtual public school? Was it through a friend or family member? Did you learn about it by doing some online research? Did you receive information in the mail or did you see an ad on TV?

Not everyone finds their passion in life as early in life as Samuel Shin did. 

At 14 years of age, Samuel is already a savvy 3D digital animator, working with a Minecraft animation YouTube channel that has nearly 3 million subscribers, KOIN 6 News reports.