Dear friends and supporters of Idaho's charter schools,

Welcome back to the new school year!  There have been many exciting things happening in Idaho's school choice movement, and the next year will be filled with continued growth and greater political opportunities for our schools and families.  Below are a few items of interest which we will follow in-depth in upcoming e-mail alerts:

Congratulations to six new charter schools beginning classes in 2009!

Idaho now has 36 charter schools serving nearly 12,000 students.  This unprecedented growth should continue as more are being planned by hard-working parents and founders.

Welcome in 2009:

-- Idaho Science and Technology Charter School, Moreland

-- Kaplan Academy of Idaho, on-line school based in Meridian

-- Kootenai Bridge Academy, Coeur d'Alene

-- Nampa Classical Academy, Nampa

-- Palouse Prairie School, Moscow

-- Wings Charter Middle School, Twin Falls 

President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan support charter schools:  The President and Secretary Duncan have aggressively urged states to repeal policies that limit the growth of charter schools.  In fact, states that have caps on charter school growth will be hindered in their ability to compete for federal "Race to the Top" education funds. 

Idaho has enrollment growth caps and limits to six the number of new charter schools that can open every year.  This issue will generate a major education policy debate in the 2010 Idaho legislative session.

U.S. Department of Education announces student video contest:

On Tuesday, September 8, in conjunction with President Obama's nationwide speech to the nation's schoolchildren, Education Secretary Duncan announced the "I Am What I Learn" video contest.

The Department invites students age 13 and older to submit a video no longer than two minutes in length, explaining why education is important and how education will help them achieve their dreams.  More details are available at www.ed.gov/iamwhatilearn/ We hope that all eligible charter school students in Idaho rise to the challenge and shares why their charter school is so important to them.

Study confirms satisfaction, success of Idaho Charter Schools.

A great new study released by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory confirms what we all know and believe - charter schools work for Idaho families.

The study focused on the 26 Idaho brick and mortar charter schools in operation in 2008.  The results showed, among other things:

-- Charter school students performed better academically when compared to other students in non-charter public schools.

-- Ninety seven percent of Idaho parents, students and teachers are happy with their charter school.

Please take a few minutes to read the entire report here

This report affirms that charter schools work for our families.  It gives policymakers another reason to support our choice -- and more information to counter critics who wish to limit our educational choice.

Share the report with your friends and families who believe in public school choice.  Reference it in your discussions with policymakers who represent you in the state capitol. Make sure you tell them your personal story about why you selected a public charter school for your children.

Idaho Charter School Capitol Day in the works.

We are working with the Idaho Charter School Network and others to plan the biggest Capitol Day event yet.  More details will be forthcoming, but the event will likely take place in late January near the beginning of the 2010 legislative session.  The three-year Statehouse building remodel will be complete and legislators will begin debates on the future of charter schools in Idaho.  This will be a great opportunity to see the new Capitol building and deliver a strong message to policymakers that we support greater school choice.  Stay tuned!

In the weeks ahead, we'll be planning more events to help better educate policymakers about charter schools in Idaho, including virtual charter and brick-and-mortar charter schools.

Meantime, our continued success will be assured by having more families join our ever growing coalition by visiting www.idchartercoalition.org and click on Join.

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