National Parent Coalition Objects to Efforts to Restrict School Choice in North Carolina

The thousands of students who want to enroll in state's first virtual charter school should benefit from she educational opportunities as the thousands of their peers nationwide.

ARLINGTON, VA - PublicSchoolOptions.org, a national coalition of parents, students, teachers and advocates who support public school choice, today stated its support for students and families in North Carolina fighting for school choice.  On June 29, a state superior court will issue a ruling after the state School Board took legal action to strengthen its grip on the status quo and prevent the opening of North Carolina's first virtual public charter school.

The chair of the South Carolina chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org, parent Beth Purcell, testified before the court on behalf of North Carolina families, and made the following statement in advance of the North Carolina Wake County Superior Court's scheduled ruling on the future of the North Carolina Virtual Academy on Friday, June 29:

"As a coalition of parents, students, and teachers from across the country united to expand choice and access to public charter schools, we support the families of North Carolina who simply want the benefit of educational options. In recent years, North Carolina has made great strides in answering the demand for public charter schools. The Cabarrus County Board of Education should be commended for recognizing the benefits of this innovative learning option. Every child learns differently, and adding one more option for families to the public school menu will only promote student success and help strengthen the future of North Carolina.

"The state school board's actions to halt the progress of this virtual charter school indicates that it is satisfied with the current education in North Carolina and the status quo, benefiting the bureaucrats while denying thousands of students an alternative learning option and the opportunity to reach their potential.  We fully recognize that this learning model isnot the right fit for every student, but for those that want it and need it, online learning can mean a vital difference to student achievement.  North Carolina should not compromise a student's future or a parent's right to choose the very best educational option for a child for fear of change.  Thousands of students across the country and right next door in South Carolina are growing and thriving because of innovative virtual public charter schools."