August 2013

WELCOME!
Temperatures rose but parent enthusiasm spiked even higher during our 2013 Parent Advocacy Boot Camp this month. Advocates, education thought leaders, PublicSchoolOptions.org Board members, educators, and parents gathered in Alexandria, Va. for three days of panels, discussion and activism. From e-learning discussions to Capitol Hill demonstrations, Boot Camp offered something for everyone. Read on for highlights on Boot Camp events and participants. Also check our blog and Facebook page for details and photos, which we will continue to share in the weeks to come. We look forward to discovering how our Parent Advocacy Boot Camp encouraged effective activism for families throughout the country!

Table of Contents
Welcome! Profile Coalition Shout-Out Cheers for Champions

Profile
Mother-son pair Esthere and Micah Tolbert mean business about the value of public school options in New Jersey, and they are taking their message where it matters.

In The Spotlight
Partners and Allies Activity Representatives from National School Choice Week, Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity and the Foundation for Excellence in Education and Digital Learning

Coalition Shout-Out

Massachusetts mom had her say on Greenfield drama Oklahoma chapter chair hailed state policy victory Ohio approved three new e-schools North Carolina advances school choice, but there's still work to do NEW: Check out updated state coalition pages for Nevada, Arkansas, North Carolina and Utah!

Now! served on an allies panel and Choice Media's Bob Bowdon delivered our keynote speech at our 2013 Parent Advocacy Boot Camp. These partners and allies helped make our 6th Annual Advocacy Boot Camp a success. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools drew celebrities and education thought leaders alike at its annual National Charter Schools Conference in Washington, DC. NAPCS President Nina Rees also addressed our parent activists at the 2013 Parent Advocacy Boot Camp. Digital Learning Now! partnered with Getting Smart and iNACOL's president and CEO to author its white paper debunking myths about online learning. StudentsFirst named 17 teachers from across the country to its 2013 Teacher Transformation Academy.

Parent advocates gathered outside the Capitol before their Hill meetings during PublicSchoolOptions.org's 6th Annual Boot Camp.

Cheers for Champions

Those who publicly support public school options help move our message and make a difference for our families. This month we thank champions in the legislative arena and beyond. On Our Reading List Online education helps one student beat the odds A StudentsFirst blogger considers U.S. education spending E chronicles New Jersey activist Angel Cordero's Boot Camp experience Rep. Eric Cantor calls for better educational opportunities PLUS: Pitbulls, Batman and more See which blogs
National Board President Beth Purcell and South Carolina
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Chapter Parent Leaders Becky Fox and Amy Scott met with Senator Tim Scott on Capitol Hill.

lured readers this month

Upcoming Events American Legislative Exchange Council's 40th Annual Meeting, August 7-9 in Chicago, IL Foundation for Excellence in Education's Excellence in Action National Summit, October 17-18 in Boston, MA International Association of K-12 Online Learning's Blended and Online Learning Symposium, October 27-30 in Orlando, FL For more information about these and other events coming to a city near you, please email us.

We'd Love to Hear from You! We are always looking for content for our monthly newsletter and blog! Please share your stories or topic ideas by emailing us!

PublicSchoolOptions.org PO Box 3230 Arlington, VA 22203

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