THIS WEEK: 1,334 Events and Activities in North Carolina to Raise Awareness About School Choice

Tar Heel State Parents Will Discover Education Options for Children During National School Choice Week

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Jan 18, 2019, 08:00 ET

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Students, parents, teachers, and community leaders are celebrating the state's many education options and the opportunities they provide families during School Choice Week.

The Week will feature 1,334 events and activities across the Tar Heel State, including open house events at schools, school fairs, homeschool information sessions, and other celebrations. One of the largest events in the state will be a rally planned on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 12:00 p.m. at The Fairview in Raleigh. In addition, a small rally is planned in Fayetteville on 1:00 PM Thursday, January 24, 2019 at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens.

Nationwide, 40,549 events and activities are being organized to raise awareness during National School Choice Week (Jan. 20-26, 2019), and 10.8 million Americans are expected to participate. It will be the largest series of education-related events and activities in U.S. history.

In North Carolina, there are many educational options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. North Carolina's public scholarship programs are available to students with disabilities or who come from low-income families. Middle school and high school students also have the option of enrolling full-time or part-time in North Carolina Virtual School.

On the local level, elected officials and community leaders are recognizing the importance of educational opportunity by officially recognizing the Week. The cities of Bethel, Charlotte, Erwin, Franklinville, Greenville, Huntersville, King, Mint Hill Village, Pineville, Ramseur, Reidsville, Stoneville, Surf City, Taylorsville, West Jefferson, Wake Forest, Wesley Chapel have issued proclamations recognizing School Choice Week in their community.

Celebrated since 2011, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort. The Week is nonpartisan and nonpolitical, and it is not related to any legislative advocacy campaign.

"We encourage schools to use National School Choice Week as another opportunity to tell families about help available through NC's three educational choice programs: the Opportunity Scholarship Program, Children with Disabilities Grant, and Education Savings Account. We also recommend that schools encourage their families to proudly identify with their schools of choice via social media during NSCW and to share their experiences and stories. And finally, we're looking forward to hitting the road next January to share stories of school choice success from across our state!" – Brian Jodice, executive vice president at Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, an organization serving families in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"North Carolina families have a growing number of different school choice options for their children, and National School Choice Week is the time to start looking into these options," said National School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella.

To download a guide to school choice or learn more about featured events in the Tar Heel State, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/states/north-carolina.

National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a spotlight on effective education options for children. National School Choice Week celebrates all types of school options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. Learn more at www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week