WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s National School Choice Week!

Schools, parents, students, lawmakers, education leaders, and others are participating in an unprecedented 16,140 events across the country this week to raise awareness about a variety of educational options.

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“The goal of National School Choice Week is to raise awareness among parents when it comes to their children’s K-12 education, they have options,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week.

“National School Choice Week also provides an opportunity for people who believe that parents should have more options for their kids to have their voices heard,” he said. “We are grateful that so many students, parents, teachers, schools, organizations, and elected officials are joining us in this positive week of events, activities and celebrations.”

Governors of 32 US state, 240 mayors and county leaders, issued official proclamations to recognize January 24-30 as “School Choice Week.” Local organizations also planned rallies at 20 state capitols to underscore the importance of providing parents with options for educating their children.

“Events during National School Choice Week – which are independently planned by schools, organizations, homeschool groups, chambers of commerce, organizations, and individuals – include everything from open houses at schools, school fairs, policy roundtable discussions, homeschool information sessions, and school assemblies,” according to a School Choice Week media alert.

Parents and education decision makers are also sharing their message through social media, specifically with a “Thunderclap” using the hashtag #SchoolChoice on Twitter.

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Governors in the following states have signed on to support National School Choice Week with official proclamations: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The Alaska legislature also approved a resolution commemorating School Choice Week.

Mayors of numerous large cities are also recognizing the importance of school choice, including Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles County, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa and Washington D.C.

The National School Choice Week website provides a comprehensive list of events scheduled across the country this week, as well as resources and other important information about school choice for parents.

NSCW events for 2016 are planned in all 50 states, as well as other countries.

Participants are showing their support by donning NSCW’s distinctive yellow scarves, and learning a new dance designed to get students and their parents excited about the important event.

California U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters kicked off NSCW at Oxford Preparatory Academy at Mission Viejo, California, where she spoke about the importance of educational options for all students.

“You are so lucky to go to such a fabulous school, a public charter school is a wonderful, wonderful school,” she said. “You have many faculty members and teachers here who want to make sure that you get the best education you can have.

“Because if you have the best education, you can live the American dream, and you can be anything you want to be!” she said.