THIS WEEK: 450 Events in Greater Washington, DC Area to Raise Awareness About School Choice

National School Choice Week begins today in Washington and across the country. There are 450 events planned in the greater DC, Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide.

The events in the Washington 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.

School Choice Week provides families in the Washington 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 WASHINGTON AREA FAMILIES

• Families in District of Columbia can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Nation's Capital 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 District, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The city also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools.
• Families in Maryland can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Old Line 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 has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools.
• Families can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Old Dominion 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.

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.

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