This week is School Choice Week in Florida and across the country. More than 860 events are planned across the Sunshine State, in addition to 5,500 events nationwide. Lending support to the effort is Governor Rick Scott, who recently proclaimed Jan. 26 – Feb. 1 as “Florida School Choice Week.”
The Week, which is the nation’s largest-ever celebration of educational opportunity, gives students, parents, and teachers in Florida a chance to raise awareness of the different types of educational options available to families in advance of the 2014-2015 school year. Events across the state will include rallies, school fairs, roundtable discussions, open houses, and parent information sessions.
National School Choice Week spotlights all types of education options for families – including traditional public schools, public magnet schools, charter schools, private schools, online learning and homeschooling.
In addition to raising awareness of school choice options in Florida, the Week also provides students, parents and teachers with an opportunity to call on leaders in Tallahassee to expand access to high-quality education environments for children.
“Florida families know that when parents have the freedom to choose the best schools for their children, great things happen,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “Student achievement increases, graduation rates rise, and children are better prepared for real life.”
Said Campanella: “As a Floridian, I am honored that Florida is hosting more School Choice Week events than any other state. Florida families have more school choice options than at any other time in history, and Florida has firmly established itself as a national leader in not just providing a range of options — but a range of high-quality options.”
The Week officially kicked off at a major rally Saturday night in Houston, Texas. Today, students wearing National School Choice Week’s signature yellow scarves will ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘School Choice Week’ being celebrated throughout Florida