School Choice Week will include an unprecedented 5,500 events across all 50 states, with a goal of increasing public awareness of the importance of empowering parents with the freedom to choose the best educational environments for their children.
National School Choice Week events will be independently-planned and independently-funded by schools, organizations, individuals and coalitions. Events — which include rallies, roundtable discussions, school fairs, parent information sessions, movie screenings, and more — will focus on a variety of school choice issues important to families in local communities, including open enrollment policies in traditional public schools, public charter and magnet schools, private school choice programs, online learning, and homeschooling.
"During National School Choice Week, millions of Americans will hear the uplifting and transformational stories of students, parents, teachers, and school leaders who are benefiting from a variety of different school choice programs and policies across America," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "Our hope is that by letting more people know about the successes of school choice where it exists, more parents will become aware of the educational opportunities available to their families."
Organizers said that National School Choice Week also provides a platform for families to demand greater educational options for their children in areas that don't provide enough educational choices to families.
"During the Week, Americans from all backgrounds and ideologies will celebrate school choice where it exists and demand it where it does not," Campanella said. "National School Choice Week will be the nation's largest-ever series of education-related events, which is testament to the incredible levels of support that exist for educational opportunity in America."
National School Choice Week is nonpartisan and nonpolitical.
During the Week, a positive spotlight will shine on all types of education options – from traditional public schools, to public magnet and charter schools, to private schools, to virtual schools, to home schooling. The nonpolitical, nonpartisan effort will bring students, parents, educators, community leaders, and elected officials together to cheer for school choice where it exists and demand it where it does not.
As supporters prepare to celebrate the Week, more American families are actively choosing educational environments for their children than ever before:
- 30 states allow intra-district open enrollment in traditional public schools; 44 allow inter-district open enrollment
- 42 states allow the creation of independent public charter schools
- 42 states have public magnet schools
- 29 states have full-time virtual schools
- 23 states offer private school choice programs, such as opportunity scholarships
- All US states permit parents to homeschool their children
In support of independently-planned events, yesterday (Jan 22, 2014), a cross-country whistle-stop train and motor coach tour kicked off. It was designed to galvanize greater public support for all types of educational choice. The tour began in Newark, NJ. The tour will cover 3,800 miles and feature special events in cities from Newark to San Francisco. Modeled after pioneering whistle-stop tours in American history, the events will call attention to the benefits of and need for greater educational opportunity for children and families.
National School Choice Week began in 2011 as an independent, grassroots-led effort. The movement has grown from 150 events in 2011 to a confirmed 5,500 events planned for 2014.
Tags: National School Choice Week, school choice, NSCW, supporting parents,
helping children, quality education
To share or post to your site, click on
"Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page
- Thanks! Posted by Bill Smith at 8:14 AM – 1/23/14, Post Link
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RepublicanLibertyCaucus/permalink/10151935484918269/
No comments:
Post a Comment