WE ARE ALABAMA PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN NEED OF OPTIONS

WE ARE ALABAMA PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN NEED OF OPTIONS

CONTENTS 2 HEALTH CONCERNS 3 ADVANCED LEARNER 4 BULLYING 5 FITS OUR LIFESTYLE

INTRODUCTION In Alabama, far too many parents are unable to access high quality options in education, like public online schools, that are available to families in other states. Now is the time to change that and help Alabama families find the type of education that works best for their children. While public online schools are not right for every student, for some it is the best option. For some, it is the only option that works. Whether it be advanced learners, students having difficulties or falling behind, medical conditions, bullying, family needs or something else, for each unique public online student, there is a unique reason for why public online schools are the best option for them. In this scrapbook, you ll see the reasons many Alabama families need access to online education. PublicSchoolOptions.org is a non-profit advocacy organization that supports high quality options in education. Our parent membership is active all across the country. In Alabama, it is support from parents, legislators, and local decision-makers that can make a difference in how our children are educated - with equal access for all to the education that s right for them. BETH PURCELL PRESIDENT, PUBLICSCHOOLOPTIONS.ORG 1WE ARE ALABAMA PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN NEED OF OPTIONS

HEALTH CONCERNS TIFFANY R. NATHAN, 5 TH GRADE My son has Asperger s Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Convergence Insufficiency and Auditory Processing Disorder. He is bullied daily and struggles with behavior and sensory issues in a traditional classroom setting. He requires one-on-one learning, which is not offered at his school due to funding issues. He is a talented actor and singer. He can effortlessly teach himself music or a script in a very short time but struggles to keep up in a classroom due to social and sensory issues. He would advance at a faster pace with online school. KRISTINA F. BRADON, 4 TH GRADE I have a son with alot of medical disabilities, including autism. An online public school would greatly benefit him. He is currently an A-B student but takes many medications in order for that to happen. If an online school was available to him, he could be in a one-on-one setting and would be able to concentrate, stay focused, and take as many breaks as he needed while still keeping up with his academics. CHERYL W. MARRION, 10 TH GRADE My daughter suffers from severe and frequent migraine headaches, which causes her to miss time at school, and get behind on her school work. If she had the opportunity to attend a public, online school, she would be able to learn more, doing her work when she was feeling well, and still advance. 2

ADVANCED LEARNER KELLI S. IAN, 1 ST GRADE My son is miserable in school. He often asks, When am I going to learn something new in school? At home, he had already breezed through the alphabet, vowels and consonants, phonics, sight-words, digraphs and blends, etc. The teacher had no interest in helping him advance. At the end of the 2nd quarter last year, the Principal allowed him to sit-in on reading sessions with a first grade class a couple of times a week. They had already tested him at a 5th grade reading and comprehension level. One of the teachers actually suggested that I stop teaching him at home so he could get closer to his peers level of learning. MONICA W. MADISEN, 7 TH GRADE, EMERY, 5 TH GRADE, AND JILLIAN, 2 ND GRADE Our oldest daughter very quickly grew bored at her public school. The teacher even stated that she had never had such a high functioning and motivated child. We asked for help from the Principal who could only offer to skip her a grade which we were not prepared to do for social reasons. While we are happy attending a private school now, we often wish that our children had the option to do accelerated work within the public school system. ERICA W. CAMDEN, 6 TH GRADE Camden is a very meek mannered child. He gets distraught when others are not following the rules. He is a quick learner and moves through lessons with ease. He is an A student and learns better in controlled, small environments. We are not able to financially afford private schools so homeschool is an option that fits Camden s learning acumen, although we would appreciate the benefits of attending a public school paid by our tax dollars. WE ARE ALABAMA PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN NEED OF OPTIONS 3

BULLYING VIKI H. GUY, 9 TH GRADE My son, Guy, is being homeschooled because he was bullied in his traditional public school. He was pushed backwards down some bleachers, injuring his back. No one called for any medical assistance and I was the last to be notified. I did not press charges because my son was afraid of retalliation. He is still trying to recover physically, as well as mentally. NANCY K. HUNTER, 7 TH GRADE My son is regularly bullied in school, having even had his backpack and clothes stolen from his gym locker several times. He is also very advanced. However, because of the bullying and being bored in class, he tends not to do homework or turn things in on time. One-on-one guidance at an online public school would help that. I d also be interested in any extracurricular activities that might be provided through the public school system. ROSALYN R. MICHELLE, 9 TH GRADE, AND AMBER 7 TH GRADE My children were incessantly bullied for being biracial. The last straw was when my youngest child was body slammed by a classmate for no reason, and no disciplinary action was taken. We couldn t take any more, so we found a way out. My children have more peace and contentment learning at home. 4

FITS OUR LIFESTYLE TANYA S. BREYNA, 8 TH GRADE, AND ALEX, 6 TH GRADE Currently I homeschool my children. I have one child who is an advanced learner and ahead of his class. My other child has developmental delays and is behind her class. The public school system didn t seem to be a good fit for us because teachers didn t have the one-on-one time to give in either situation. It would be amazing to have an online public school teacher that could teach them on an individual basis. KAREN M. JAMES, 6 TH GRADE, JORDAN, 4 TH GRADE, EMMA, 1 ST G R A D E, AND MARY, KINDERGARTEN Our oldest child has been the target of bullying. It is because of a medical condition. He is exceptionally bright. I have him in private schools but they do not protect him any more than the traditional public schools. My second child is a gifted athlete in multiple sports. Having two such different children is a blessing but given the current constrainsts of the school systems, we can t develop their time or talents. CORI B. JASMINE, 5 TH GRADE, LOTUS, 1 ST GRADE, AND MICHAEL, PRE-KINDERGARTEN My oldest and youngest children are very advanced, quick learners. My middle daughter has a bit of trouble and doesn t focus well in her classes. If we attended an online public school, my oldest and youngest children would have their chance to learn and excel at their blazing speeds, and my middle child could work at her own pace. WE ARE ALABAMA PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN NEED OF OPTIONS 5

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ALABAMA CHAPTER PUBLICSCHOOLOPTIONS.ORG (866) 558-2874 Info@PublicSchoolOptions.org www.publicschooloptions.org/alabama /PublicSchoolOptions.org @PubSchoolOps