A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Families and Friends of Idaho's public charter schools:

As we enter another exciting school year, I wanted to share some information that you will find interesting and informative.  The Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families is an organization dedicated to the advancement of public charter schools in our great state.  We represent all of you in promoting and advocating for broader education choice policies at the local and state level.

The charter school movement has made great strides over the last few years, and many of you deserve credit for blazing the early, difficult trail toward more school choice options in Idaho.  As many of you know, that trail has been littered with obstacles and unfriendly forces who remain skeptical and hostile to the public charter school concept.

Our continuing goal with this newsletter is to keep you informed, share good news stories, and ask your continued awareness and involvement in the bigger picture challenges and successes that affect Idaho's charter schools.

We look forward to continuing to be a resource and assist you in building a positive image for your school and the movement, in general.

Sincerely,
Briana LeClaire, President

THE CURRENT STATE OF IDAHO'S PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS

A total of thirty public charter schools are now operating in Idaho, with over ten thousand students enrolled!  We extend our congratulations to two new charter schools that opened their doors for the first time this fall - Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, and Vision Charter School in Caldwell.

Still, there are nearly seven thousand names of students on Idaho's charter school waiting lists.  This is a clear indication that like you, many more parents are seeking broader, more exciting education options for their children.

SUPERINTENDENT LUNA PLACES MORE EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL CHOICE

As most of you know, Tom Luna's campaign for Superintendent of Public Instruction included a healthy, positive approach to school innovation and an expansion of school choice options for Idaho parents.  Superintendent Luna is following up on those promises.  He has reorganized the Department of Education and created the Division of Innovation and School Choice.  He has hired some very talented people to explore and promote new approaches to learning in the traditional school setting, and to provide more Department support for charter schools.

Many of you have already met the Department's School Choice Coordinator, Shirley Rau, as she has gathered input from Charter school leaders around the state.  She has developed a new "Charter Start 101" program to assist interested parties in starting new charter schools.  The first program was conducted on September 28, and has the potential to generate as many as fifteen new charter schools in Idaho.

We will share more detail about Tom Luna's efforts to support and expand charter schools in an upcoming report, but we can report that he is fulfilling his promise to promote more school choice options in Idaho.

ENCOURAGE YOUR LEGISLATORS AND STATE POLICY LEADERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL

As we move through the school year, we need your help in educating our policymakers on charter schools and their contributions to the public education system in Idaho.

We cannot emphasize strongly enough the need to develop relationships with, and educate your local legislators about your charter school.   Please seek out your legislators, invite them to visit your school at a parents night or back-to-school gathering.  Help them understand why you have chosen the charter school option for your children, and how it is working well for your family.

In general, the Idaho legislature remains very cautious with its support of public charter schools.  Since the passage of the charter school law in 1998 we have made steady progress in gaining trust with the legislature, but many still view charter schools as an "experiment".  Help them understand more clearly how the "experiment" is working well in Idaho.

You can contact us at info@idchartercoalition.org for ideas and suggestions for talking to and engaging your elected representatives.

IDAHO CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE NEWS

Below are a few recent news stories that highlight some of our great charter schools.  We encourage you to identify and promote your own good news stories at your school.  Ken Burgess can assist you in developing stories and garnering interest from the news media.

Feel free to send us information about your school that we can include in our future alerts. 

KTVB-TV CH 7 (NBC) Boise, ID
 
August 21, 2007
 
Students around the state are back in school --but for some the classroom is only as far away as the keyboard. Two-thousand 400 students will be getting their education from the Idaho Virtual Academy. That's up nearly three-hundred students from this time last year.
 
The virtual academy is a charter school that serves students across the state in both elementary and high school.
 
Idaho Press-Tribune (ID)
Vision Charter starts first year

Kendel Murrant
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
 
Education: Ceremony inaugurates school's challenge to overcome obstacles, open its doors

CANYON COUNTY - Despite the numerous obstacles that stood in the way, Vision Charter School has become a reality.

"This school has been defined by volunteers and incredible dedication," Vision's vice chairwoman Jody Benson said at the school's grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday night. "We have worked long and hard to open this school in the face of many obstacles."

Obstacles mounted to the point that just a few months ago, it looked as though the school would not be able to pull together in time for this school year, according to Vision Charter administrator Wendy OldenKamp...
http://www.idahopress.com/news/?id=217
 

Vision Charter students experience Mexico through dance
The Idaho Statesman
BY VICKIE D. ASHWILL
Edition Date: 09/26/07

Their stage was the playground, their orchestra was a CD player, and their costumes were given a Western twist with red bandannas and cowboy hats.
The fourth-grade class at Vision Charter School in Caldwell marched onto the blacktop, hands on their hips and big smiles on most faces....
http://www.idahostatesman.com/education/story/168045.html

New virtual school uses Internet as classroom
KTVB-TV CH 7 (NBC) Boise, ID
Monday, September 24, 2007
BOISE -- A new program is allowing students to complete their elementary and high school education without ever stepping foot in a classroom.
"I believe this is the school of the future," said Dallas Taylor, principal and superintendent of Inspire Virtual Academy.
In today's world the Internet allows people to span the globe, but now you can also log on to learn....
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-sep2407-academy.1060d6b5c.html

IDVA COMMENDATION FROM THE IDAHO CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION

Congratulations to Idaho Virtual Academy for its letter of commendation from the Idaho Public Charter School Commission. The letter from Tamara Baysinger, the Commission's Charter Schools Program Manager, read:
           
"On behalf of the Idaho Public Charter School Commission, it is my pleasure to commend your exceptional work in monitoring and responding to the academic needs of your students, as well as your dedication to providing the best possible service to families enrolled at your school.  Your ongoing commitment to effective virtual education in Idaho was evident in your recent report to the Commission, and your efforts are deeply appreciated."