49 mayors and 21 governors are celebrating National School Choice Week 2014 this week by officially proclaiming it 'School Choice Week' in their states and cities, organizers announced today. The elected officials are recognizing the importance of effective education options by issuing proclamations recognizing the benefits of all types of educational opportunity, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning and home schooling.

Notable governors who have issued proclamations include Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Prominent mayors who have endorsed National School Choice Week include Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. Mayor Slay will be issuing his proclamation today at a National School Choice Week celebration in St. Louis, an event which is one of 5,500 independently-planned events taking place this week all across the country.

"This bi-partisan show of support underscores the growth, the breadth and the unity of the school choice movement," said National School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella. "Americans of all political and socio-economic backgrounds are coming together to demand educational options for their children."

Governors who have signed proclamations include:

       
-- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley -- Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell
-- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley -- Idaho Gov. Butch Otter
-- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry
-- Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
-- Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval -- Indiana Gov. Mike Pence
-- Florida Gov. Rick Scott -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer
-- New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez -- Utah Gov. Gary Herbert
-- Ohio Gov. John Kasich -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal
-- North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory -- Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad
-- Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam
-- Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant
 

Mayors who have signed proclamations include:

       

-- Houston, Texas, Mayor Annise Parker

-- Indianapolis, Ind., Mayor Greg Ballard
-- Phoenix, Ariz., Mayor Greg Stanton -- Rochester, N.Y., Mayor Lovely Warren
-- Boston, Mass., Mayor Marty Walsh -- Jacksonville, Fla., Mayor Alvin Brown
-- Denver, Colo., Mayor Michael Hancock -- Fort Worth, Texas, Mayor Betsy Price
-- San Diego, Calif., Interim Mayor Todd Gloria -- Milwaukee, Wis., Mayor Tom Barrett
-- Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Patrick Cannon -- St. Louis, Mo., Mayor Francis Slay
-- Tucson, Ariz., Mayor Jonathan Rothschild -- Scottsdale, Ariz., Mayor Jim Lane
-- Orlando, Fla., Mayor Buddy Dyer -- Spokane, Wash., Mayor David Condon
 

Now in its fourth year, National School Choice Week 2014 is hosting 5,500 independently planned events spanning all 50 states. Supporters of National School Choice Week believe states must do more to expand access to challenging and motivating educational options, be they high-performing traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning or homeschooling.

For more information on National School Choice Week, visit: http://www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

www.schoolchoiceweek.com
@schoolchoiceweek
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National School Choice Week
Allison Schneider, 800-640-2671 ext. 104
allison@schoolchoiceweek.com