Coalition of Idaho Chater School Families

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

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