National School Choice Week begins today in Montana and across the country. There are 41 events planned in the Treasure State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 16,140 events nationwide.

The events in Montana, 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.

The mayor of Billings has issued an official proclamation recognizing January 24-30, 2016 as “School Choice Week.”

“School Choice Week provides families in Montana with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2016-2017 school year,” said Andrew R. Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options.”

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 MONTANA FAMILIES

  • According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in Montana can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2016-2017 school year. Parents in the Treasure State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public 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 a program allowing 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.