THIS WEEK: 744 Events and Activities in Alabama to Raise Awareness About School Choice

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

Governor Kay Ivey Issues Proclamation Recognizing Jan. 20-26 as Alabama School Choice Week

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Jan 18, 2019, 08:00 ET

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Jan. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- School Choice Week is underway across Alabama as students, parents and teachers from every type of K-12 education option celebrate opportunity in education.

The Week will feature 744 events and activities across the Yellowhammer 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 series of breakfast roundtables featuring education scholarship recipient families planned in Huntsville, Birmingham, and Mobile throughout the Week.

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 Alabama, there are all kinds of educational options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. Alabama even offers scholarships for some families to send their children to private or parochial schools. Students below a certain income level or transferring from underperforming schools are eligible for a state-run scholarship program. ACCESS Alabama is the state's virtual school, designed for high school students to take courses that may not be available (or easy to schedule) at their schools. Public school students in grades 9-12 can take classes for free; nonpublic school students can take courses for a fee.

On the local level, elected officials and community leaders are recognizing the importance of educational opportunity by officially recognizing the Week. Governor Kay Ivey issued an official proclamation recognizing Jan. 20-26 as Alabama School Choice Week. In addition, the cities of Athens, Brundidge, Clanton, Daphne, Elberta, Jemison, Montgomery, Ohatchee, Orange Beach, Vincent 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.

"Alabama families have more choices for their children's education than ever before, and we encourage parents to use National School Choice Week to explore 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 Yellowhammer State, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/states/alabama.

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