Advocates, students, parents, and teachers representing a broad coalition of school choice options will come together to celebrate educational opportunity at the Capitol during National School Choice Week.

On Thursday, January 26 at 11:30 a.m. more than 800 people - mostly Colorado students – will gather on the west steps of the State Capitol in Denver. The event will feature testimonials from students and parents who have selected a wide variety of different schooling options in Colorado. Attendees will also participate in the 2017 National School Choice Week dance.

The rally will feature Emmy-winning journalist and well-known TV personality Rodolfo José Cárdenas as its emcee.

The event’s goal is to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of all school choice options in Colorado, including traditional public schools, charter public schools, magnet public schools, innovation public schools, online schools, private schools, and homeschool programs.

The celebration is timed to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2017), which will feature more than 21,000 events across the country.

“The Colorado League of Charter Schools is thrilled to be part of this celebration of all of Colorado’s amazing school options – including traditional public, charter public, online, homeschool, and private school programs,” said Stacy Rader, director of communications at the Colorado League of Charter Schools.

“National School Choice Week is an opportunity for so many organizations that care deeply about children’s futures to come together for an inclusive and positive day of celebration,” said Shannon Nicholas, director of communications and programs at Colorado Succeeds.

Event organizers include Colorado League of Charter Schools, Colorado Succeeds, Independence Institute, Public School Options, and ACE Scholarships.

Supporting partner organizations include A-Plus Colorado, Colorado Business Roundtable, Colorado Charter School Institute, Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Great Choice Douglas County, Jeffco Charter School Consortium, Jeffco Students First, Parents Challenge, Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE), Ready Colorado, Seeds of Hope, South Metro Denver Chamber, and The Challenge Foundation, and The LIBRE Institute.

Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 21,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, charter public schools, magnet public schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.