More than 6.4 million people are participating in more than 21,000 events this week as part of National School Choice Week. Organizers say it’s the “largest series of education-related events” in the country’s history.
National School Choice Week started in 2011 with just 150 events across the country. By 2013, it had ballooned to more than 3,600 events. The celebration of educational choice has included more events every year it’s been held.
While the celebrations all fall under the National School Choice Week brand, they’re independently planned and funded, making the growth even more impressive.
Events include rallies at 25 state capitol buildings and the United States Capitol. More than 600 mayors and county leaders and 22 governors signed official proclamations declaring School Choice Week in their area.
“The real answer to inequality in America is giving more children more opportunities to attend a better school,” Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said in a statement. Alexander chairs the Senate education committee. “I look forward to commemorating this important week for our nation’s children and, with the Trump administration and Betsy DeVos, once confirmed, working to give low-income parents more choices of schools that wealthy Americans have.”
Alexander also wrote a Senate resolution that would recognize this week as National School Choice Week.
National School Choice week celebrates all types of school choice, whether it’s open enrollment in traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning options or homeschooling.
Jason Russell is the contributors editor for the Washington Examiner.
