INDIANA EVENTS

If you haven't already responded, be sure to send us a note to let us know if you are able to attend the upcoming  July 31^st Indiana Virtual Families social events.   View details for the South Bend Picnic at  (http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/sy5j5k7rzp5qmtqfk) and Noblesville Pool Party information details at (http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/r8vjxv4m7xcz262y4) then send an email to info@indianavirtualfamilies.org to RSVP (deadline 7/30).  Also, don't forget there's a "southern" Indiana event scheduled in Lincoln City, for details click here (http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/yk7in5rmjqk7pz2gt)  and send an RSVP by August 4^th.  Way cool door prizes!  We want you there!!!! 

Don't forget our last summer event is a pool party on August 28^th at Turkey Run also.  An online invitation will be coming soon.

ONLINE INFORMATION SESSIONS for the Indiana Virtual Pilot Schools can be found at:

                Hoosier Academy  - www.k12.com/ha under "Upcoming Events" -- click on either the "Pre-Recorded Session" (which can be access on-demand as a recording) or the "Online Sessions" if in progress.

                INCA Virtual Pilot School (Indiana Connections Academy) -  http://www.connectionsacademy.com/.  Connections Academy schools conduct a variety of events for prospective families and students to learn more about our innovative education program.

CORRECTION NOTED

We ran across this article from "Reason Foundation" magazine.   Though not all of the information regarding virtual learning in Indiana is accurate, we thought our members might like to weigh in on by reading this article To read the full article click here. 

UNIONS FIGHT BACK  

The National Education Association, the country's main teachers union, takes a hard line on virtual charter schools: "There also should be an absolute prohibition against the granting of charters for the purpose of home-schooling, including online charter schools that seek to provide home-schooling over the Internet," says the organization's official policy statement on charter schools. "Charter schools whose students are in fact home schoolers, and who may rarely if ever convene in an actual school building, disregard the important socialization aspect of public education, do not serve the public purpose of promoting a sense of community, and lend themselves too easily to the misuse of public funds and the abuse of public trust." But analog unions can't stave off the appetite for online education forever, and state-run virtual academies like FLVS [Florida Virtual School], and those offered in dozens of other states are in demand, meeting the needs of children, performing well, and assisting in the pace of change.

THANKS TO ALL!    

Thanks to you, we were able to defeat an attempt these past few weeks by special interest groups to take $800 million in education reform funding, including $100 million from charter schools, and use it to support new domestic spending.  To read the full article from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools click here.

ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS   From the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools:    Charters have witnessed dramatic growth considering the many obstacles they have to overcome. The Alliance continues to work to create a more favorable policy environment that addresses challenging issues affecting charter growth and quality.

• GROWTH - Let charter schools grow. Many states have caps, or limits, on the number of charter schools allowed, seriously inhibiting charter school growth.Withan estimated 365,000 students on charter schools wait lists, theAlliance is working in key states to lift these caps.
• FUNDING - Allow the funding to follow the student. Many states provide significantly less than full funding to public charter schools. Learn more abouthow charter schools are constrained by inequitable funding.
• FACILITIES - Allow facilities funding. Public charter schools inonly 15 states and the District of Columbiareceive some manner of state facilities aid and are struggling to cover capital expenses out of their limited operational budgets. Get the details here.
• OVERSIGHT - Demand quality oversight. The quality of authorizing and oversight has been uneven across the country. The Alliance is working with other charter school organizations to address this imbalance.
• PERFORMANCE - Get the facts about performance. Research and public debate on charter school academic performance is often compromised by methodological issues and misconceptions. Children deserve schools that help them achieve their learning potential and meet their educational needs.

We seek for quality public school options for all kids, and encourage growth in schools that prove education excellence.   For more information, visit the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools at http://www.publiccharters.org/