Welcome to the Digital Public Schools Alliance website. Our coalition of parents share a common bond of having children in full-time or part-time online public schools, an education option that perfectly fits their learning needs.
For every child in a digital public school, there is a different reason for choosing it. Whether it’s accelerated learning or slow learning, physical disabilities or mental disorders, schedule-heavy extra-curricular activities, or the need to escape bullying, our kids require the individualized education and alternative environment that online schooling provides. Unfortunately, this option is in jeopardy.
For the first time in the history of Washington State, the Legislature cut the actual per student basic funding for just one group of public school kids: ours. The basic funding level, known as the Full Time Equivalent, provides a certified teacher, counselor, administrative staff, and curriculum to support one child. Just like their peers in traditional classrooms, our digital public school kids need all of these services yet they receive 15% less from the state. The state can save money on the separate funding for buildings, buses and other capital-intensive resources our kids don’t use. But, that is separate from the Full Time Equivalent.
Our kids need an alternative to the traditional classroom, but cutting their funding simply leads to lower quality instruction, curriculum, and student support. We’ll be working hard to make sure our parents’ voices are heard and that this funding is restored.
Please take a few minutes to explore our website, learn about our families, and sign-up to support our effort. The future of our children's education is at stake.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Platt
President
