THIS WEEK: Florida Leads Nation In School Choice Week Celebrations; 2,763 Events Planned, 50+ Sunshine State Counties and Cities Join Gov. Scott in Proclaiming “School Choice Week”

The Sunshine State plays key role in National School Choice Week,
the largest celebration of educational opportunity in US history.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–National School Choice Week begins today in Florida and across the
country. There are 2763 events planned in the Sunshine State to raise
awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide.

The events in Florida, 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 youth and
schooling celebration day January 21 at 10 a.m. at Pasco Safety Town in
Trinity, FL.

The counties of Volusia, Gilchrist, Orange, Glades, Okaloosa, Hardee,
and Walton; cities of Atlantic Beach, Aventura, Bay Harbor, Belle Isle,
Bonita Springs, Bradenton Beach, Brooksville, Cocoa, Cooper City,
Crystal River, Davenport, Deerfield Beach, Eatonville, Edgewood, Flager
Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Walton Beach, Freeport, Greenacres, Havana,
Indialantic, Indian River Shores, Indian Shores, Inglis, Jacksonville,
Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Wales, Lakeland, Largo, Maitland, Melbourne,
Miami, Miami Shores Village, North Bay Village, Opa-locka, Palmetto,
Panama City, Pembroke Pines, Pompano Beach, Port St. Lucie, Redington
Beach, Rockledge, Safety Harbor, South Daytona, Springfield, Tarpon
Springs, Vero Beach, and Winter Springs; and Governor Scott have issued
official proclamations recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice
Week.”

National School Choice Week provides families in Florida 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.

“We are excited to be part of the 21,000 School Choice Week events
taking place around the country,” said Wendy Howard, a longtime school
choice advocate. “Our free event offers a fun-filled family day with
lots of activities and performers while providing parents with all of
the necessary information on all of the school choice options available
to them.”

“As a Floridian, I am grateful that millions of Floridians will be
celebrating National School Choice Week 2017,” said Andrew Campanella,
president of National School Choice Week, “There are more school choice
events in Florida this week than in any other state, and that is
testament to the hard work of so many people across the state in
continuing to provide, protect, and enhance education options for
children and families.”

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 FLORIDA FAMILIES

• According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in
  Florida can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018
  school year. Parents in the Sunshine 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. The state also allows 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 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

Contacts

National School Choice Week
Shelby Doyle, 202-480-2927 ext. 820
Director
of Communications and External Relations
shelby@schoolchoiceweek.com