Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive, succeed, and be happy. And every parent in New York should have the freedom to choose the schools that work best for their individual children.
That is the message being carried forward by thousands of families throughout the country as part of National School Choice Week (NSCW). Running from Jan. 22-28, more than 26,000 school choice events are scheduled across all 50 states to raise equal and positive awareness of the traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, and home education options available for families.
“School choice allows families to make the best decisions possible based on their children’s unique circumstances. As educators and parents, our highest priority is always to ensure the well-being of our children. The ability to select a school education that provides the most appropriate academic, social, and emotional supports is paramount to that effort and should not be considered a luxury,” said Yomika S. Bennett, Executive Director of the New York Charter Schools Association.
“Parents’ voices must be respected and we stand in solidarity with our partners to protect families’ rights not only during School Choice Week but every day as families make one of the most important decisions that will shape their children’s future.”
Locally, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, families of schoolchildren from throughout New York will participate in an awareness-raising celebration of school choice at the State Capitol in Albany.
Hosted by Children’s Scholarship Fund, New York Charter Schools Association, Families for NYC, and the Empire Center for Public Policy, the event will bring parents representing traditional public, public charter, and private schools from across the state to meet with their representatives and other statewide elected officials and share their stories of exercising school choice on behalf of their children. The celebration begins at 11 AM and is open to the public, with families gathering at the Million Dollar Staircase at 1:45 PM to rally in celebration of school choice.
In addition to this event, 1,197 public and private schools in New York will host independent events and activities during NSCW. These schools enroll an estimated 459,359 students across all grade levels.
For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.