National School Choice Week

National School Choice Week was founded in 2011 to promote the concept of all forms of school choice: district schools, district magnet schools, charter schools, private schools, and home schooling.[1] The week of events is scheduled the last week of January each year.[2] As an organization it does not promote one form of educational choice over another,[3] but rather contends that parents should have and make choices in the best interest of their children.

History

The week consists of independently organized events,[4] both large and small, in schools, state capitols, and other public meetings featuring the movement's signature yellow scarves. According to the National School Choice Week website, "more than 131,000 NSCW events have been planned across the country" since 2011.[5]

A number of notable celebrities and public officials have participated in events during National School Choice Week. For example, in January 2014, former WNBA basketball player Lisa Leslie joined with U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor for an event at Friendship Chamberlain Elementary School in Washington, D.C.[6] In 2013, the Jonas Brothers kicked off National School Choice Week with a concert in Phoenix.[7] In 2014, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at an event at Minute Maid Park in Houston.[8] In 2015, National School Choice Week opened with a nationally televised event in Jacksonville, Florida, featuring speeches NFL star Desmond Howard, Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, and a video greeting by US Senator Marco Rubio.[9] In 2018, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos spoke at a National School Choice Week event on Capitol Hill.[10]

National education organizations that have participated in the week's events include the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Magnet Schools of America, the Council on American Private Education, the National Coalition for Public School Options, the Home School Legal Defense Association, the American Federation for Children, the Association of American Educators, the Black Alliance for Educational Options, the Children's Scholarship Fund, Choice Media, Education Reform Now, Families Empowered, the Foundation for Excellence in Education, and the 50 State Campaign for Achievement Now. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Governors and mayors across the country have issued resolutions and proclamations in support of the movement.[21] The list of governors includes Bobby Jindal, John Hickenlooper, Scott Walker, and Martin O'Malley.[21] Well-known mayors such as Marty Walsh and Kevin Johnson have also voiced their support.[22] From 2015-2019, the US Senate has passed a commemorative resolution recognizing School Choice Week, and U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued similar proclamations in 2017, 2018, and 2019. [23][24][25] [26] [27][28]

The President of National School Choice Week is Andrew Campanella. He has served in this capacity since 2012.[29]

References
  1. "National School Choice Week champions better education". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  2. "National School Choice Week Kicks Off in January".
  3. "About". schoolchoiceweek.com.
  4. Shoshana Weissmann. "School Choice Week is almost over — now what?". Red Alert Politics.
  5. "A Look Back | Celebrations". National School Choice Week. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  6. "Students Rally for School Choice in D.C." Washington Free Beacon.
  7. "Jonas Brothers kick off National School Choice Week". Twitchy.
  8. Hassan, Anita (2014-01-26). "Thousands rally for school choice in Houston". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  9. "Redefined Online".
  10. Phenicie, Carolyn. "Republicans Kick Off National School Choice Week by Celebrating Rare Legislative Win in an Otherwise Tumultuous Year". Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  11. "National Alliance Celebrates National School Choice Week". National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  12. "'Choice week' celebrates school options". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  13. "National School Choice Week Celebrated Across the Country" (PDF).
  14. "National School Choice Week 2019". National Coalition for Public School Options. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  15. Association, Home School Legal Defense. "Students, Congressmen Rally in D.C. for School Choice - HSLDA". Home School Legal Defense Association. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  16. Jackson, Nicole; February 5, 2018 (2018-02-05). "AFC Goes BIG for National School Choice Week 2018!". American Federation for Children. Retrieved 2019-10-08.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. Sharkey, Colin. "Association of American Educators". www.aaeteachers.org. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  18. "I Have a Dream: A National School Choice Week Celebration". Children's Scholarship Fund. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  19. "#AskExcelinEd: What does National School Choice Week mean to you?". ExcelinEd. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  20. "The real impact of school choice". Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  21. "21 Governors, 49 Mayors Proclaim 'School Choice Week' In Their States, Cities".
  22. "29 Governors Endorse National School Choice Week As America's Largest Education Reform Celebration Sweeps Across The Country - Business Wire". 31 January 2013.
  23. "Senator Scott's School Choice Resolution Passes U.S. Senate | U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina". www.scott.senate.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  24. Scott, Tim (2018-01-25). "Text - S.Res.381 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): A resolution designating the week of January 21 through January 27, 2018, as "National School Choice Week"". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  25. January 26, 2017 (2017-01-26). "U.S. Senate unanimously passes National School Choice Week resolution". American Federation for Children. Retrieved 2019-10-08.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. "Presidential Proclamation on National School Choice Week, 2019". The White House. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  27. "National School Choice Week 2017 Proclamation". The White House. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  28. "Trump issues 'national school choice week' proclamation". Washington Examiner. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  29. "Andrew Campanella".
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