National School Choice Week begins today in Michigan and across the country. There are 730 events planned in the Great Lakes State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide.

The events in Michigan, 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. Highlighted events include a large school choice celebration January 27 at 1:30 p.m. at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Rotunda .

The cities of Centreville, Chikaming, Columbus, Erie, Fife Lake, Ira Township, Ishpeming Township, Kalkaska, La Salle Township, Lapeer, Niles, Parma Township, Roscommon Township, Vienna, West Branch, and Whiteford and Governor Snyder have issued official proclamations recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice Week.”

National School Choice Week provides families in Michigan with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options.

“It doesn’t matter whether a student attends a public, private, or online school,” said Ben DeGrow of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. “Detroit families need even more access to quality educational options like those represented at our event.”

"Michigan families will use National School Choice Week as an opportunity to celebrate the education options available to children, while speaking out in favor of even greater opportunity in education," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week.

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 MICHIGAN FAMILIES

  • According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in Michigan can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Great Lakes 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.

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 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.