Is Estonia the New Finland? 
Two New Greenberg Videos



AERO Conference is in Three Weeks!
Getting better from my travel sickness but not back to normal yet. 

Low income Rate, Hotel Reservations
1. We've maintained the low income option of $225 to this point, but it will be removed before the conference. It is up to your judgement if you are low income. If you want to take advantage of this, please register in the next day or two to be sure. 
2. We are approaching our contracted limit for rooms at the Portland Airport Holiday. There are still rooms available for all days, but you should reserve soon. You have nothing to lose. You cam still cancel on 24 hours notice. There is a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. 

AERO conference is August 3-7 in Portland, OR. Let me know if you or a group needs some special help to be able to attend, etc. If you are a homeschooler or teacher, contact us for special rates. If you haven't registered yet and you need help with that let us know.  

AERO Conference App
We'd love to hear your feedback on the new conference app. For the first time, we are using an amazing app for the AERO conference that will tell you just about anything you want to know. And it can be updated almost immediately with newly announced spontaneous workshops. 

Even if you weren't planning to go to the AERO conference this year, you should take a look. See below how to access it:

If you want to sign up with the same email you used to register for the conference and you will be automatically linked to the event. If you are not registered for the conference simply download the app for Android or ios, create an account, search for the event, click it and hit "join event". 
Farewell Finland, Hello . . . Estonia?
There's another small country getting attention for its strong student performance on international assessments, and for the equity of its instructional programs. 

Sarah Butrymowicz of The Hechinger Report joins EWA public editor Emily Richmond to discuss how more eyes are looking beyond Finland to nearby Estonia, a relatively young country with  an already impressive academic track record. What lessons might there be for U.S. schools when it comes to teacher workforce, and putting more educational choices in the hands of the students themselves? And what challenges are Estonian schools facing as more students opt for the college-prep high school track over vocational or career training? 

Listen to the show here.
Op-ed: Good Parent-Teacher Relationships Drive Educational Improvement
By  Lynn Stoddard

Do Utah citizens care if we are last in per-pupil funding and below average in student achievement? This year could be the one we do something about it. Numerous studies show that parental involvement in each child's education is the best way to help students achieve.

In the summer of 1975 a group of teachers met for two days at an elementary school in Northern Utah to make plans around this question, "How can we make our school better?"

Near the end of the second day, after many ideas were explored, a fourth grade teacher raised this question, "What if we held a different kind of Back to School Night? Instead of meeting with parents as a group, and us telling them what they can do to help us, why don't we meet with each child's parents to find out what they want for their children?"

Read the rest here.
What Does the Opt-Out Movement Want?
By Alan Singer

Charging that Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State legislature in "Albany failed to act in the best interest of the children of New York," NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE) has issued a new manifesto for the opt-out movement -  A New Framework for Public Education in NYS: Building a Vision that Serves ALL Students.

According to NYSAPE spokesperson Jeanette Deutermann, Nassau County public school parent and founder of Long Island Opt Out, "Grassroots organizations worked feverishly this spring to push for legislation to correct the mistakes made by our legislators and our Governor last year. Once again, the Albany leadership failed to respond to the growing tide of discontent. Parents will respond in kind this November. While others may celebrate this hollow victory of a fleeting reprieve, parent organizations will continue to fight for what is in the best interest of our children and the health of our public schools.  Our message has been loud, clear, direct, and unwavering. The time for excuses are long gone."

Read the rest here.
Links and Calendar
Links
Ongoing
 
Calendar
Please send us feedback on this issue. also, we would like to have more articles written by AERO members and about AERO school and organizations.  Thank you for your ongoing support. With  your help , we will make learner-centered alternatives available to everyone!

In Service,

Jerry Mintz
Executive Director
Alternative Education Resource Organization

Please consider making a donation to AERO to help support our work. Thanks!