Advocates Across the Country Plan Largest Education Reform Celebration in American History

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2011 -- National School Choice Week (www.schoolchoiceweek.com) begins in just seven days, and advocates say they're expecting tens of thousands of people to attend events across the country and raise awareness for education reform to unprecedented levels.  

To date, National School Choice Week events and commemorations are planned in nearly every US state, with organizers anticipating that additional events will be officially announced this week. Early interest suggests that tens of thousands of people will participate, including media personalities, national and state lawmakers, and celebrities -- making National School Choice Week the loudest, largest and broadest clarion call for school choice in American history.

Commemorations will span the nation -- from the Eastern seaboard to Alaska and Hawaii -- raising awareness about education reform at movie screenings, rallies, town hall meetings, panel discussions, and briefings for elected officials. National School Choice Week, a collaborative effort by more than 150 organizations, will raise public awareness about any and all forms of educational choice, including public charter schools, magnet schools, virtual education, homeschooling, tax credit scholarships, and opportunity scholarships.

"Over the past year, we've seen more interest and excitement over education reform than ever before," said Kyle Olson, executive director of National School Choice Week. "That interest, excitement, and restlessness has been channeled into National School Choice Week, which will celebrate the fact that there are workable solutions to America's education challenges -- but only if elected officials summon the courage to fight for real reform."

Olson said that National School Choice Week will bring together people of all backgrounds -- from Democratic activists to Tea Party leaders. The commemoration will take place at the peak of many state's legislative sessions, during which lawmakers are debating a variety of reforms to statewide education systems.

For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com