This is National School Choice Week in West Virginia and across the country.

There are 92 events planned in the Mountain State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice and 21,392 events nationwide.

The events in West Virginia, 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.

The county of Raleigh and cities of Belle, Glenville, Milton, Nitro, and Weirton have issued official proclamations recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice Week.”

National School Choice Week provides families in West Virginia 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.

“Research shows that school choice increases student achievement, boosts graduation rates, and provides children with the tools and knowledge they need to pursue their dreams,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week.  “During National School Choice Week, West Virginia families will raise awareness of the benefits of school choice, while speaking out about the importance of expanding opportunity to even more families.”

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.

According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in West Virginia can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year.  Parents in the Mountain State can choose from the following education options for their children:  traditional public schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling.  In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located.

For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.