National School Choice Week begins today in Iowa and across the country. There are 157 events planned in the Hawkeye State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 16,140 events nationwide.

The events in Iowa, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. On Tuesday, January 26, hundreds of supporters will rally for school choice at the Iowa State Historical Museum.

Governor Terry Branstad has issued an official proclamation recognizing January 24-30, 2016 as “School Choice Week.”

“Iowa is a national leader in providing parents with an expansive array of K-12 education choices for their children,” said Andrew R. Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “Iowa has demonstrated to the nation that not only is school choice feasible in a largely rural state – but that it is effective, too. National School Choice Week will shine a positive spotlight on these options so that more parents can learn about the opportunities available for their kids.”

With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history.

SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR IOWA FAMILIES

  • According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in Iowa can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2016-2017 school year. Parents in the Hawkeye State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has private school choice programs that allow qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools.

ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 24-30, 2016. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.