National School Choice Week begins today in Philadelphia and across the country. There are 464 events planned in the Delaware Valley area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide.

The events in the Philadelphia area, 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.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has issued an official proclamation recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice Week.”

School Choice Week provides families in the Philadelphia area 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.

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 PHILADELPHIA AREA FAMILIES

  • Families in Pennsylvania can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Keystone 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 a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools.
  • Families in New Jersey can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Garden 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 or follow the discussion on Twitter using #schoolchoice.