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The mission of Options for Education

is to promote school choice by:

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Empowering parents with resources to make decisions in line with their ethical, moral and spiritual beliefs

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Helping educational entrepreneurs to thrive by creating a community for networking, support and promotion

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Sourcing and creating learning opportunities where students blossom into healthy contributing humans

We are a 5013C non-profit. 

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​Services Provided:

 

​Services to Families:

 

Education Vendor Expo

 

Online Resource Library

 

Referrals and recommendations

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Services to Educators:

 

Personal Support

 

Networking Events

 

Program & Curriculum Development

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Upcoming:

 

Educator Conference

FAQ's

Who runs Options for Education?

Brettani Shannon founded the organization and operates as the president.

As of 2023, a board of community members came together as the board of directors. Members of the board include Stacy Zeutzius, Mark Reisling, Rachel Boettner, Cedar Shannon, Dominique Main and Clyde Burgquist.

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Do you provide classes?

No? Our efforts so far have been supporting, promoting and connecting educators and parents, not providing direct service. However, we do bring in teacher trainers on occasion. And, over the next year, we are planning out experiential learning trips for teachers and parents to utilize and may provide some direct services at that point. Stay tuned!

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Are you religiously affiliated?

No. OE is not a religious organization and supports both faith-based and non-faith-based educators and families. However, the leadership is made up of praying Christians who desire to honor God in all that we do.

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Are you politically affiliated?

No. We support school choice for EVERYONE. We reject over-reaching governmental government control and the sexualization of children in the public school system, and we believe that the only way to protect ourselves is to band together regardless of political differences.

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Do you charge? 

All of our events are free! 

There will be a cost associated with some of our future programming, but we are working diligently to make any programs we choose to do, accessible to all. 

We support and promote: 
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  • SCHOOL CHOICE​
  • Homeschool​
  • Private school
  • Alternative public schools
  • Charter Schools
  • Co-ops
  • Supplemental Programs
  • Nature based, Place based, and Project Based Learning Environments
  • Service learning
  • Unschooling
  • Educational Travel
  • And everything in between.
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We do not support or promote:
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  • Programs that sexualize children
  • Programs with political or social missions outside of school choice

the Founder

I was a teen parent and a highschool dropout. But, as you can see by following my professional life, I like to take what could have brought me down and turn it into something God can use for Good.

 

First working with Women’s Crisis, then Pregnancy Care Center, I find myself taking the role of a walking, talking resource guide, gathering and sharing community resources. 

 

At PCC, I also had the honor of writing a supplemental school program that challenged kids to think through their decisions about sex and relationships. I was alarmed to learn of the sexual health education standards passed down from our department of education.

 

My daughter was a great kid, but didn’t get much out of school until her junior year when she opted for a charter school that enabled her to attend RCC instead of regular high school. She came alive there and worked to her associate’s degree along with her diploma. This experience really gave me a value for looking outside the box to find right fit education model for your child.

 

For my second child, school was tough!

We tried multiple school, supplemental programs, and even cut back working to homeschool him. If I had known then what I know now, I would have made very different choices and feel confident that his life would have been much happier and healthier. On a positive note, the years of tears did leave me with a valuable rolodex of educational resources and a huge appreciation for those in our community dedicated to being innovative and proactive, braving the world of teaching without the support of public school dollars. Hats off to you - it is not easy!

 

My son was finally succeeding in school. Then, Covid hit and we were back in desperate circumstances.

 

My third child, whose beloved K-8 school stayed open thankfully, had only 2 yea.rs left and we were looking for a high school fit for her that I could trust. Like many others, my husband and I were to the point that we were ready to move away to a state where school choice dollars would enable us to find a better solution, but something in me hesitated. Everyone around me, parents and teachers, were also desperate. I asked myself if I was doing everything I could to be part of the solution here in Grants Pass and the answer was, no. I knew I could do more. 

 

I started a facebook group and started posting all the resources I could find there, and inviting parents to connect, hoping and praying that I would find the right solution for my family along the way. 

 

I asked some friend s and several people I had found online to come to the table with me, to have a conversation and share their journeys and allow me to live stream the conversation to my Facebook group. 

 

Parents and teachers found connection and hope through Options for Education. 

Schools reopened, but the ethical red flags had already been raised and the demand for alternative education continued to grow. 

 

These panel conversations eventually led to our first Education Expo, now an annual event. This year, it is March 2. 

 

We have 38 educational service providers (with 2 on the wait list) from very different walks of life, from very different schools of thought coming together to offer options for education to this community. 

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We throw mixers 1-2 times a year to celebrate all of the great educators in our informal network. These parties are sponsored by the VELA Education Fun, amazing source of funding for "permissionless education" providers. 

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What is next? We shall see! Feel free to reach out. I am always up for coffee or cocktails!

 

Warm Regards,

Brettani Shannon, Founder

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KEYWORDS: SCHOOL CHOICE OREGON ~ GRANTS PASS SCHOOL OPTIONS ~ HOMESCHOOL ~ GRANTS PASS ~ ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION ~ EDUCATION EVENTS
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