We're in this boat together to save online learning programs for our children. It's been a rough ride thru some rapids. Today we're in what looks to be still water since the House of Representatives has adjourned until Monday. Yet the final, troubling white water of the final budget negotiations, is still ahead. Now is the perfect time for someone representing every online student to give our maximum effort to let leading legislators know why they need to treat our kids' education the same as all other students.

So, how is it possible for each of us to send the same message to the right seven  senators without having to make time to write seven letters - or even one? It's called a letter desk. It's easy.  I've already written the "body" of a letter that can be personalized, if you wish. Personalized, or standard, the letter is set-up to automatically be delivered to the most influential seven senators who have earned a position where they can either help or hurt our cause. And it's all online.

Please go right now to deliver the message while you're thinking of it. It won't take more than five minutes. The link is:http://waonlinefamilies.org/actioncenter .

Some, I hope many, families are continuing to make personal calls to the Senators on the Ways & Means Committee. That takes significantly more time and is very powerful. I'm not asking for any more personal calls, unless you're willing to pull up yesterday's eblast and continue down the list. We're getting important feedback from those calls. I would love to get feedback from you, too. Email me atinfo@waonlinefamilies.org.

Please forgive me for the lame intro. This is all getting to be old news - exactly when it's time for budget writers to make their final decisions that will determine the future of online public school programs in our state for at least the next two years. So, thanks for sticking it out to the conclusion which could be as soon as next Wed, May 25 at midnight.

Families: If you'd like more info, go to our blog at www.waonlinefamilies.org.  The legal opinion on the Constitutional challenge and more budget information is posted there. If you haven't read the bill yet, go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ and type in 2065. Then scroll down to May 10. There are two HUGE problems with HB 2065: segregating our students to subject their funding to budget battles every year and adding mandatory "seat time" requirements to online students. The problems could be fixed with a couple amendments that are being worked behind closed doors. That's why we continue to ask for legislators to OPPOSE HB205 unless it's fixed. If a legislator wants more info, please have them call 253-564-9779. Thank you!