Dear Coalition members and supporters,

 

It's that time of year again children back to being students, parents back to being their biggest supporters, and educators back in their classrooms and offices.  As I reflect on the summer, I am again reminded of how we lucky we are.

 

I had the opportunity to attend the National Coalition for Public School Options conference in D.C.  this past July, and it was so wonderful to listen to all of the representatives from states where reform is also in the news!  Change is a-comin', and we Idahoans are not alone in shunning the underperforming and outdated status quo.

 

As Coalition members, we already know how important it is to leave the status quo behind, and forge ahead with new ideas that are centered on what works for students.  For instance, we know that technology is a good thing!  Many of our members' children learn in virtual academic programs, and it is extremely effective and family friendly.   What it is NOT is sitting in front of a computer that has replaced a certified teacher!    What it is NOT is social isolation!  What it is NOT is a radical fringe of radical parents outside the grid!  Technology is one wave of the future of education, and one of the reform measures that Superintendent Luna has included in Students Come First. 

 

We also know that brick and mortar charter schools already have in place many of the measures included in the reform package.  Many of the charter schools in Idaho have 32 children per class starting in 4th grade, and have consistently turned in superior academic scores in challenging curricula.    So, we know that larger classes and good results are possible!  They also utilize technology, and many administrators have expressed their excitement about the possibility of rewarding high performing teachers with pay for successful work. These schools continually turn in results that outpace the traditional publics.  And ?wait for it most of their teachers are not members of the teachers union ? gasp!  Notwithstanding, many of them get paid more than union backed teachers in traditional publics, and an outside audit showed that they have a very high level of job satisfaction. 

 

In short, the reform measures that are currently in place are a wonderful start to improving Idaho's education for all students.  The status quo hasn't worked for our families that is why you are on this site, and reading this blog!  You made a different choice, supported by legislators that were willing to work hard for it Idaho's first educational reform, after all, was choice.

 

Unfortunately, the status quo cheerleaders are getting a lot of attention lately.  Superintendent Luna and many legislative advocates of choice and reform are taking a beating for their efforts.  In fact, the City Club of Boise is hosting the status quo establishment leaders on Sept. 7th.   We need to support and demand that the City Club hear from the folks who have supported our right to choose our children's education, and who have worked hard to bring these benefits to all Idaho children!

 

So, I leave you with this support your local and state reform legislators who have been our advocates.  Be vocal about the reforms that you are already seeing the benefits of oh, and have a great school choice year!

 




Coalition Blog         August 25, 2011

From the Desk of the Coalition Manager

It's True-----------we are all geared up for "Back to School"! As summer draws to a close and we all get back into the "swing" of school, the Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families is also gearing up! Lots of things happen over the summer but having fun is Number 1. Although not everything we did was really FUN?we did attend many meetings that affect public charters and public virtual schools.  The State Board of Education and the  Superintendent's Taskforces held meetings all summer to work on how to implement the 3 new laws passed by the Idaho Legislature and to determine how best to resolve the "unresolved" issues from the 2011 Legislature Session. Just last week the State Board of Education voted to require 2 on-line classes be completed before Idaho Students can graduate from High School.  This is a great move in the right direction!!

After all that summer fun, we are now busy planning the fall events throughout Idaho! First of all the Coalition is hosting the 2nd annual Back-To-School WAHOOZ Fun Center Event in Meridian! It is absolutely FREE and every family receives a bag of tokens for the arcades and every person attending gets a ticket for free pizza and soda! We will have a few Guest Speakers that are Hero's of School Choice and we have invited the local Legislators so you can meet them in a relaxed atmosphere! For Idaho's Upper Valley--Idaho Falls to Blackfoot-- we are planning a free Social event Corn Maze and Hot Dog BBQ at the Corn Maze near Shelly. Check out the Coalition Webpage for details and then let all your friends know to attend!!     

Your Coalition is involved with many efforts to support your Charter or Virtual School. Board President Leslie Mauldin has been talking with several Idaho Legislators on legislation that would "lift the cap" on the number of Charter Schools that can be chartered in any one year.  This is a VERY IMPORTANT piece of work and those of you who have children on the "waiting list" should be very interested in supporting this effort.

President Mauldin has also been working on how best to structure legislation that would provide a lower cost way to bond for brick and mortar public charter schools. This would lower the cost of the buildings and ease the burden on Charter school families that now contribute both their tax money (for schools their children do not attend) and cash donations to the building funds of the public charter schools their children do attend!  Keep watch for more information on this issue as we gear up for the 2012 Legislative Session. We will need you and your VOICE next year!!

Check out our Website and watch for Twitters and Tweets on what is happening in Idaho and around the country where more public school choice is actively underway!! There is a National effort to provide more public school Choice for parents and students.  The battles continue with the foes of Public School Choice and your Voice needs to be heard.

Have a great September and keep checking back to the Coalition Website to hear more about what is going on and how YOU can make a difference!!!

Jane

Coalition Manager




The Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families Congratulates ANSER Charter School Teacher Diane Williams on receiving the

Idaho Human Rights Educator-of-the-Year Award!

 

Dan Prinzing, Education Director of the Idaho Human Rights Education Center, announced last week that Diane Williams, junior high humanities teacher at Anser Charter School in Garden City, has been named Idaho Human Rights Educator-of-the-Year.  Diane will be honored at the annual Idaho Human Rights Educator-of-the-Year award at the Center's eighth "Change Your World Celebration," on Friday, October 21 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Green Chutes, a new community art gallery at 4716 W. State Street in Boise.  Diane will be speaking to an audience of 150 to 200 supporters once presented with the award.

The Celebration is the Center's signature event and has a reputation as one of the most dynamic cultural events in the community. Past events featured Holocaust Survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein and Lost Boy of Sudan John Bul Dau as keynote speakers; this year's Celebration will be another unforgettable night with keynote, Dr. Nancy Taylor ? one of the founders of the Memorial and current pastor of the Old South Church in Boston.

Please help the Coalition Board and Anser Charter School in congratulating Diane. She has worked tirelessly since the inception of the junior high program to bring to Anser students a curriculum that speaks to the injustices around the world.  This social justice curriculum highlights the thoughts and actions the school strives to impart to their students who, after leaving the school, will be making a difference in our own community, our state, our nation and the world. 

Diane stated, "This award is every bit as much about the school I work in, the colleagues I work with, and the students who inspire us, as it is about me. I am only the facilitator."

Idaho can be proud to have Diane as a leading educator in the field of human rights.
Blog Posts
New Year Letter From President Mauldin
Happy New Year 2011!!
Happy 2011 to all Idaho Charter and Virtual school families! I hope your holiday season was enjoyed by all, and that you also found some time to rest, because we have some work to do in the upcoming legislative session! Please go online now at www.idchartercoalition.org and register to attend and support Capitol Day at the Legislature on Feb. 2nd - help your Coalition in its efforts to stop those who plan to further restrict choice in education in our State in the upcoming Legislative Session! As you know, the purpose of Coalition is to promote and advocate for public policy at the State and Federal level that furthers the advancement of public charter schools, virtual education and distant learning opportunities. The Coalition works to ensure that every Idaho student has equal access to the option of enrolling in a public charter school, virtual charter school or supplementing their education through distance learning opportunities. Your Coalition is also working toward a goal of providing equity in public funding and extracurricular activities. During these trying economic and budgetary times, we must pull together to protect our public charter schools from well-funded efforts to thwart expansion of public charter and public virtual charter schools thus limiting choice for our children and others who would benefit from expansion. Currently there are nearly 7,500 Idaho students waiting for a chance to learn in a Public Charter environment. The upcoming Legislative Session provides us a unique opportunity to reach our elected leaders in an effort to protect our right to choice in education for our own children, as well as to help those on the long waiting lists across the state to have opportunities to educate their children as they choose. Those of us blessed enough to already be taking advantage of this opportunity now have a chance to join in solidarity to expand school choice with those parents and children who are still waiting. What can you do to help to protect and expand choice in education for the state of Idaho? JUST SHOW UP and SPEAK UP! We need your support at our CAPITOL DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE event on February 2nd! The last time significant legislative progress was made, it was because charter and virtual families showed up in force, commanding the attention of their legislators by their sheer numbers. In the current financial climate, we need to show up and command their attention again, and send the message that Choice in Education is here to stay for the state of Idaho. Since Charter and Virtual schools cost the taxpayers 23% less than traditional public schools and produce better results, the Coalition must be visible and vocal in support of more choice, not less, in an environment where budgets have been cut. We must inform the public that during this budget crisis, these schools save taxpayer monies. The probability is high that those who promote the status quo and oppose education choice for students, parents, and teachers will attempt to cut public Charter/virtual school funding and to further restrict new Charters from opening. When budgets are strained we need to support, not restrict, economy and value, and Charter/Virtual schools deliver bang for the taxpayer buck! We are planning a wonderful event that will be educational and informative, culminating in a rally on the Statehouse steps, and the singing of Idaho's State Song and the National Anthem in the Statehouse rotunda. As a professional musician, I know how effective music can be in passing information from the mind to the heart. The effect of the voices of our children will be felt around the state as we work together to protect and advance Choice in Education for everyone who seeks it! I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in the capacity of President for your Coalition, and look forward to meeting many of you at this event and at future events we are planning for 2011. Let's kick the year off right by letting our lawmakers know that we are strong and ready to protect and support our right to choose the way our children are educated in the state of Idaho. The Coalition needs to have at least 1,000 folks on the Capitol steps if we want to push back the attempts to further limit our choices in education for our children. JUST SHOW UP and Speak Up at Capitol Day at the Legislature on Feb. 2nd! I'll see you there. Cheers to the New Year! Leslie Mauldin President, Idaho Coaltion for Charter School Families Chair, Victory Public Charter School Director, Idahoans for Choice in Education
Albertson Foundation
Awards
J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation Dear Charter School Leaders, As you know, the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is a supporter of School Choice and we continue to believe that every Idahoan deserves high quality educational choices to fit their needs. This year we would like to support Idaho Charter Schools by granting a gift of $100,000 to help with obstacles you may be facing in your school. Congratulations and Happy Holidays! Sincerely, Staff at the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation