National School Choice Week begins today in Nebraska and across the country. There are 134 events planned in the Cornhusker State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide.

The events in Nebraska, 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 rally for school choice January 26 at 11 a.m. at the Nebraska State Capitol.

The county of Morrill and cities of Valley and Gering have issued official proclamations recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice Week.”

National School Choice Week provides families in Nebraska 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.

“The huge numbers planning to attend this event reflect the widespread opinion that it’s time for school choice in Nebraska,” said Tom Venzor of the Nebraska Catholic Conference. “Our Catholic school families and thousands more families who seek to have their children in the best school possible believe that National School Choice Week is a great opportunity to amplify our message.”

"By working together, parents, students, teachers, and community leaders will raise important awareness about educational opportunity in Nebraska during National School Choice Week," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "The goal of this Week is to celebrate school choice where it exists, and provide a platform for people to demand even greater opportunities in education."

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 NEBRASKA FAMILIES

According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in Nebraska can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Cornhusker State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public 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.

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.