Rebecca McAuliffe
Join the Celebration!

Virtual Schools Capitol Day is less than three weeks away! This annual event is a great opportunity to celebrate virtual public schools and show your support for your education choice. We hope you can join us in Salem on March 14

Join the Celebration!
Rebecca McAuliffe
It's time to register for Virtual Schools ...

Virtual Schools Capitol Day is just around the corner. We are thrilled to return to an in-person event in Salem. Register today to join us for the 2023 Virtual Schools Capitol Day on Tuesday, March 14 at 10:00am.

It's time to register for Virtual Schools Capitol Day!
Rebecca McAuliffe
2023 Legislative Session, National Schools ...

After last week’s swearing-in ceremonies for Governor Kotek and new legislators, lawmakers met this week to officially convene the 2023 Legislative Session. Several bills have been introduced to raise or remove the 3 percent enrollment cap to make virtual public schools available to more Oregon families. We will keep you informed on how you can advocate for these bills. 

2023 Legislative Session, National Schools Choice Week and More
Rebecca McAuliffe
I'm grateful for school choice

As we prepare for Thanksgiving later this week, it’s a good time to pause, reflect and show gratitude for the positive things in life. I’m grateful for many things, including the opportunity to send my children to the school of their choice, a full-time virtual public school.

I'm grateful for school choice
Rebecca McAuliffe
Celebrate With Us

Although we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week earlier this month, we want to continue honoring our amazing virtual school teachers! Appreciation should not be reserved for just one week every spring but demonstrated throughout the year. As parents of virtual school students, we’re grateful for the hard work and commitment of our teachers. We applaud their passion for teaching and support of students across the state.

Celebrate With Us

Capitol Day Was A Success!

Recap: Oregon Virtual Schools Capitol Day

Oregon Virtual Schools Capitol Day was a huge success! We had a great turnout of students, parents and teachers at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem. Families learned about legislative issues impacting virtual education and the importance of advocating for virtual public schools. Teachers presented a fun and interactive education program for students highlighting how a bill becomes a law.

After the legislative update and student activity, families walked over to the Capitol to present Golden Apple legislator awards to Rep. Emily McIntire and Rep. Tracy Cramer. These legislators were the chief sponsors of HB3204, a 2023 legislative session bill that made some administrative changes to the enrollment cap related to count dates, appeal notifications, and students who are currently enrolled in a virtual public charter school but move to a capped district. This bill was an important first step in leveling the playing field to ensure fairness for families who are seeking to enroll their students in a virtual public charter school.

Families visited legislative offices in the Capitol to urge legislators to support virtual public schools and to continue to improve access to those families who choose to utilize them.

Thank you to all families who were able to join us for Capitol Day. If you couldn’t attend, you can check out our Facebook and Instagram accounts to see a recap of the day.

Thank you for all you do for our schools. We look forward to advocating with you in the year ahead.

Sincerely, 

Tricia F. Powell
President

The Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance is coalition of parent volunteers whose primary objective is protecting access to a quality, virtual public education in our state. We seek to protect this right by educating Oregon policymakers about the benefits of virtual public charter schools and the positive contributions they make to our children's education.

Capitol Day & House Bill 4161

Register Today!

Virtual Schools Capitol Day is just around the corner. Register to attend our 2024 Capitol Day event on Tuesday, February 27, at 10:00 a.m. at the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St, SE, Salem, OR.

About Virtual Schools Capitol Day

Every year, families from across Oregon gather at the State Capitol Day in Salem to celebrate virtual public education. Virtual Schools Capitol Day is an opportunity to:

  • Celebrate the virtual public school experience

  • Meet other virtual public school students and families 

  • Honor legislative champions for virtual public education

  • Tell state legislators why a virtual public school is the right fit for your family

During the event, you will: 

  • Learn what’s going on in the Oregon State Legislature that impacts virtual schools 

  • Participate in a fun and interactive student activity 

  • Learn how to advocate for your family and your school choice

  • Have fun!

Support House Bill 4161 to Raise the 3% Enrollment Cap on Virtual Public Schools

In 2011, the Oregon State Legislature placed a cap of 3% on the number of kids in a school district that can transfer to virtual public schools. As more students are seeking enrollment in virtual schools, school districts across the state are hitting the 3% cap and denying students enrollment in the school of their choice. At the OVPSA, we believe all families deserve to have a voice in their child’s education. 

Please do your part and register to deliver remote testimony in support of House Bill 4161 during the House Education Committee hearing on Wednesday, February 14, at 3 p.m. House Bill 4161 raises the enrollment cap from 3% to 6% so more students can access a virtual public school option.

If you’ve never testified before, email us at info@oregonvirtualschools.org, and we can walk you through how it’s done. 

If you can’t testify or would prefer to submit written testimony, you can submit written testimony to the committee. Written testimony must be submitted on later than 24 hours after the start of the hearing, so no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 15.

Thank you for all you do to support our schools! 


Sincerely, 

Tricia F. Powell
President

The Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance is coalition of parent volunteers whose primary objective is protecting access to a quality, virtual public education in our state. We seek to protect this right by educating Oregon policymakers about the benefits of virtual public charter schools and the positive contributions they make to our children's education.

Welcome To The New School Year!

Stay Connected

Happy fall! We hope the school year is off to a great start! We look forward to working with you in the coming year to support your school choice.
 
As we look ahead to the legislative session in February, we will communicate with you about policies and programs that impact virtual education in Oregon. We want to help our community of parents understand how decisions made in Salem may impact your family and your school choice. Advocating for your education choice makes a real difference to our leaders in Salem.
 
You can keep up with our advocacy efforts by following us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and visiting our website.

The Results Are In!

Thank you to all the families who responded to our annual survey. Your responses help us inform state policymakers about Oregon’s virtual public schools and families who utilize them. The survey results offer important information about why families choose this public school option and how it’s working for them. Some key findings include:
 

  • 59% of families chose a virtual school due to the quality of the curriculum

  • 53% of students experienced bullying in their brick-and-mortar school

  • 31% of students were below grade level when they started a virtual school and now are at grade level or above

  • 45% of families chose a virtual school because it offers state-certified teachers who are trained to teach online

Thank you for all you do to support our schools!

Sincerely, 

Tricia F. Powell
President

The Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance is coalition of parent volunteers whose primary objective is protecting access to a quality, virtual public education in our state. We seek to protect this right by educating Oregon policymakers about the benefits of virtual public charter schools and the positive contributions they make to our children's education.

Governor Signs HB3204

On July 27, Governor Tina Kotek signed HB3204 into law. As reported in our July newsletter, the bill makes administrative changes to the 3% enrollment cap on virtual schools. The changes are related to district enrollment count dates, appeal notifications, and capped districts. The bill doesn’t remove the 3% enrollment cap but ensures fairness and prevents discrimination for virtual school enrollment. The changes will take effect in the 2023/24 school year.

Final chance to complete family survey

Our family survey will be closing soon! Don’t miss this opportunity to share your virtual school experience. Your responses will help us educate state lawmakers about Oregon’s virtual public schools and the families who use them. With your help, we can continue to make a difference for Oregon’s virtual public school students.

Thank you for all you do to support our schools! Enjoy the rest of the summer! We’ll be in touch in September.

Sincerely, 

Tricia F. Powell
President

The Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance is coalition of parent volunteers whose primary objective is protecting access to a quality, virtual public education in our state. We seek to protect this right by educating Oregon policymakers about the benefits of virtual public charter schools and the positive contributions they make to our children's education.

July 2023 Newsletter

Oregon Legislative Session

The 2023 Oregon legislative session adjourned on June 25. With the help of families like yours, the legislature approved HB3204. The bill makes technical changes to the 3% enrollment cap, such as ensuring fairness and preventing discrimination for virtual school enrollment. While the bill does not raise or remove the enrollment cap, it is an important first step to improve access for families seeking to enroll in a virtual public school. Thank you for your help in getting this bill across the finish line.

Family Survey

Don’t forget to complete our family survey. Your opinion is important to us! Let us know why a virtual public school is the right fit for your family. 

We gather this information to educate lawmakers about Oregon’s virtual public schools and the families who use them. With your input we can inform the conversation surrounding virtual public schools. Through education and coordinated advocacy, we can continue to make a difference for Oregon’s virtual school students.

Thank you for all you do to support our education choice.

Sincerely, 

Tricia F. Powell
President

The Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance is coalition of parent volunteers whose primary objective is protecting access to a quality, virtual public education in our state. We seek to protect this right by educating Oregon policymakers about the benefits of virtual public charter schools and the positive contributions they make to our children's education.