Welcome

Thank you visiting us at Good Apple PPP.  

We hope that by working together we can maintain our

Parent Partnership Programs in the state of Washington.  

Together We Can Make A Difference! 

Why PPPs are under fire, and what this means for YOU:

PPPs under fire in the legislature?  Why?   Unfortunately, since the 2005 rule revision governing Parent Partnerships, the administrations overseeing a small handful of Parent Partnerships in the state of Washington have taken advantage of loopholes in the law and engaged in practices that are unethical, contrary to the spirit of ALE law, and/or in direct conflict with the mandate of public education.  As a result, many of our state legislators are exasperated with the abuses.  This is a situation where a few bad apples may spoil the whole barrel. If we don’t act, we may lose PPPs altogether.

What bad practices are we talking about?

• Giving stipends or "signing bonuses" to families for enrolling.
• Using curriculum not approved by the district and/or religious curriculum.
• Providing financial incentives to employees based on enrollment numbers.
• Marketing by PPPs directed outside the program's district.
• The creation of schools and/or programs by a district in another district with the absence of a contract that specifically addresses the arrangement.
• Failing to inventory non-consumable items or "gifting" these items to students and/or families.
• Altering the district's regular instructional program offerings to meet "substantially similar" requirements.

These behaviors must be stopped, but it is unfair to penalize the Good Apples—the vast majority of PPPs and families who have been playing by the rules—for the behavior of a few Bad Ones.  PPPs are too valuable an educational alternative to lose.

Do legislators understand the importance of PPPs?  Many if not most legislators believe that if PPPs were to shut down, their families would simply return to traditional home schooling, thereby saving the state money.  Faced with the current budget crisis, what will they choose to cut?

Washington legislators are generally unaware of the changing face of Parent Partnership Programs.  Your legislators may not know that increasingly, families who have never homeschooled before are now choosing PPPs.  Families who intend to return to the public schools at a later date are choosing PPPs, as are families for whom online school does not meet the needs of their students.  PPPs are now essential in meeting the needs of large numbers of special needs children.

How can you help save your Parent Partnership?  Together, we must prove to our legislators that the Good Apples are worth keeping.  Bad practices must be eliminated. Savings achieved for the state by offering PPPs must be explained to our legislators. See Get Involved for how to do your part.