The 2010 Charter School Day at the Capitol has been scheduled for Monday, January 18, 2010 (Martin Luther King Monday).  The Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families goal is to make this year's event the largest grassroots gathering of charter school parents, children and advocates on the Capitol steps to date!

Please mark your calendars, save the date and register at the Coalition website!

Click Here to Register!

Be one of the first to visit the newly renovated Capitol building!  Guided tours are available.

The 2010 legislative session will include consideration to lift or eliminate the cap on the numbers of new charter schools, and opponents of school choice are proposing legislation to place a moratorium on any new charter schools.

"It is critical that legislators see the faces and hear the stories of parents and children who have chosen a public charter school as the best option for them," said Coalition President Briana LeClaire. "In general, policy makers still lack understanding about the value of public charter schools and school choice.  We intend to make a bold, assertive statement -- early in the legislative session -- that public school choice is in demand, is working, and should be expanded, not stifled."

Despite healthy growth in the numbers of public charter schools and students - currently 36 charter schools and 12,000 students - there are still nearly 7,000 Idaho students on charter school waiting lists. 

The January 18 charter school rally will illustrate to policymakers that there is a strong, vocal, active constituency that cannot be ignored in their debates.

More details will be forthcoming, but the day will include:

            -Seminar on how to speak to your legislator
            -Organized student activities illustrating grassroots civic involvement
            -Free lunch!
            -March and rally on the Capitol steps
            -Visits with Legislators
            -Tours of the newly renovated Capitol

Please register today!  Get engaged in the legislative process!