Unprecedented Coalition of 14 Statewide Groups and School Districts Announces School Choice Rally at Colorado Capitol - January 26, 2015

Event will spotlight success of education options in Colorado during National School Choice Week

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Jan 21, 2015, 07:00 ET

DENVER, Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- School choice supporters from across the Centennial State will converge on the west steps of the Colorado Capitol for a history-making rally and celebration on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 9 am. The message of the event: school choice is working for Colorado families.

Colorado Senate Education Committee Chairman Owen Hill (R) and State Senator Mike Johnston (D) will be speaking at the event and students from the Excel Institute will be performing.

The event, which will bring together education advocates of all ideologies and backgrounds, will shine a positive spotlight on the success of Colorado's broad portfolio of education options for families, which include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling.

In addition, students, parents, and teachers will share their personal school choice stories at the event, which is planned to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 25-31, 2015).

"Colorado has been a leader in school choice, but it is crucial that we expand the number of educational opportunities available," said Pam Benigno, Director of the Independence Institute's Education Policy Center. "As a state, we have not kept up with the demand for choice— especially for the kids who need options the most."

"Children are 10% of our population and 100% of our future," said Deborah Hendrix of Parents Challenge. "Choice in education is paramount for our country's success."

"As a business community, we are working to make Colorado the best place in the world to raise a child and grow a business," said Scott Laband, President of Colorado Succeeds. "We know that education is central to that effort, as is access to high quality school choices. Everything we do is focused on making sure our state provides all children in Colorado with world-class educational experiences."

Planning partners for the rally include: Colorado Succeeds, the Colorado League of Charter Schools, Stand for Children Colorado, The LIBRE Initiative, Together Colorado, ACE Scholarships, Independence Institute, Democrats for Education Reform, Parents Challenge, Douglas County School District, JeffCo Students First, the Colorado Department of Education, Great Choice Douglas County, Americans for Prosperity Colorado, and Douglas County School District.

Celebrated every year in January, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on all types of effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The celebration is nonpartisan and nonpolitical. National School Choice Week 2015 will feature a history-making 11,000 independently-planned and independently-funded events across all 50 states.

For more information, contact:
Deborah Hendrix
[email protected] or (719) 271-2411

SOURCE National School Choice Week