October 2012

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Table of Contents

Make Your Voice Heard by Casting Your Vote!

Election Day is coming up and it is an important time for parents to do their homework to ensure they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. This election is about more than just electing a president, there are important races for state and local elected officials across the country, including numerous ballot initiatives and constitution amendments that will impact the future of school choice. As we continue our work to give parents and families a voice in the national education debate, this Election Day your vote is your voice. Undecided on who to vote for? Check out the election guides from the Center for Education Reform, American Federation for Children and Students First to help you decide which candidate will stand up for your child's education. If you live in Iowa, be on the look out for the results from a candidate questionnaire to be released by the Iowa Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org next week. MI Online School Administrator Named as Finalist for Statewide Charter Award Charter Schools Take Center Stage on Georgia Ballot Families Go Wild at PublicSchoolOptions.org Event at Utah Zoo Upcoming Events

MI Online School Administrator Named a Finalist for Statewide Charter Award

Congratulations to Stephanie Hargens, the Head of School at the Michigan Virtual Charter Academy! Stephanie has been named one of the five finalists in the Michigan Charter School Teacher and Administrator of the Year award competition. The Michigan Association of Public School Academies announced the finalists via YouTube and the winner will be announced at their annual confrence on November 6th.

In The Spotlight...
PublicSchoolOptions.org Treasurer Cherie Nielsen Discusses Her Family's Experience with Online Learning Each family has a unique story as to why they decided to enroll their child in an online public charter school. Cherie Nielsen, who also serves as Chair of the Virginia Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org, shares the benefits her family has found as a result of their educational option. Click below to hear their story.

Michigan Virtual Charter Academy Head of School Stephanie Hargens

Charter Schools Take Center Stage on Georgia Ballot

On November 6 voters in Georgia will head to the polls and decide the future of the schools of 50,000 Georgia public charter school students. Voters will decide on Amendment One, which if passed would give local communities the power to appeal to the state if its charter school application is denied by the school board, providing charter schools with a fair shot at approval.
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Online Public School Graduate Making Music at Julliard 2012 Ohio Virtual Academy graduate Michael Lenahan is joining the ranks of more than 105 Grammy Award winners as a student at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. Thanks to the flexibility offered by his online public school, Michael was able to devote six hours a day to practicing piano, helping him to achieve his dream of being a concert pianist. Read More

Families Go Wild at PublicSchoolOptions.org Event at Utah Zoo

School Choice is Making Headlines Across the Country The September issue of Businessweek takes a close look at LA-based nonprofit group, Parent Revolution. State legislators from both sides of the aisle in Georgia came together to fight for more charter school options in a joint op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Georgia parent and Director of PublicSchoolOptions.org Alisa Hug shares her why Georgia voters need to pass Amendment One with Getting Smart. Read More

On Friday, October 12th, the Utah Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org sponsored a family outing for students enrolled in online and brick-and-mortar charter schools. Despite a winter storm advisory and thunderstorm, 1,181 attendees came out to the zoo in Salt Lake City for the event. This was an increase in the number of attendees by over 50 percent since last year's event.

Upcoming Events
October 26: Colorado Cyberschool Families is hosting bowling events in Aurora, Wheat Ridge and Pueblo.
November 13: The Wyoming Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org is hosting a meet-and-greet in Cheyenne. For more information about these and any other upcoming events possibly coming to a city near you, please email us at info@publicschooloptions.org.