By Tillie Elvrum Can you believe it? Boot Camp 2015 is in the books! After all the panels, breakout sessions, and presentations, our annual Parent Advocacy Boot Camp has come to a close. And I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out! We had a full house of advocates who were eager to…
By: Cherie Nielsen As my tenure as a member of the PublicSchoolOptions.org Board of Directors comes to a close, I am reminded of where we started, proud of what we’ve accomplished, and looking forward to the exciting road ahead. My twin boys were in the third grade and my daughter was in kindergarten when I…
By Beth Purcell As the final school bells have rung signaling the end of another school year, my time as PublicSchoolOptions.org’s national president is drawing to a close. For the last seven years, I have been deeply involved in PSO, witnessing great victories within the school choice movement peppered with a few disappointing defeats. I…
By Amy Scott During the planning stages of South Carolina PSO’s Capitol Day, I was wracking my brain trying to think of a creative way to have parents and students engage with legislators. Ah-ha! Fans. That’s it! After all, it’ll be a warm spring day in Columbia — and a fan will serve multiple purposes. After all, we’re…
by Steven Isaacs As I think about my own educational journey through the brick-and-mortar public school system, I am so glad that my son Skylar has more opportunities than I did. Growing up, I would have been a more focused and motivated student if I had been able to work at my own pace. Thankfully,…
by Vanese Griffin, special education master teacher Guest contributor With debates on testing and standards dominating the news, you’re probably unaware the Tennessee Department of Education told over 180 special education students it is shutting down their school. It is a school that serves a higher percentage of special education and economically disadvantaged students than…
by Cherie Nielsen Thank you to all the virtual public school families of the Commonwealth who wrote letters, sent e-mails, and made phone calls in support of HB 324. Governor McAuliffe signed it into law! The Governor’s support is vital, as we focus on the bill being passed again next year. If that happens, Virginia Virtual…
by Susie Earl My daughter Marissa took herself out of our local, public, brick-and-mortar school two days ago. She told me she wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher but didn’t think she would receive the adequate education to do so. She didn’t feel challenged. She didn’t feel prepared. She felt all of these things…and she…
Nancy’s story My son did TNVA for his 7th and 8th grade years, then TOPS for 9th grade. He is now a 10th grader with a 3.8 GPA and a 28 ACT score. Online school has been a great fit for him. Lynn’s story My family is a huge supporter of TNVA. We have been…
by Beth Purcell Whoa! How great is this? Not only are Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator Patty Murray working together on ESEA reauthorization, but Senator Tim Scott has penned the CHOICE Act AND there is a bipartisan bill to expand access to charter schools. A huge thank you from all of us at PublicSchoolOptions.org for…