Bipartisan U.S. Senate Resolution Recognizes School Choice Week

Unanimous U.S. Senate Recognizes January 26 – February 1, 2020 as National School Choice Week, Encourages Parents to Learn About School Choice Options for Their Children

Senators Tim Scott and Dianne Feinstein Lead Bipartisan Effort 

WASHINGTON, DC –– The U.S. Senate has unanimously agreed to a resolution encouraging parents across America to “learn more about the education options available” for their children during National School Choice Week (January 26-February 1, 2020).

The resolution, which officially recognized January 26-February 1, 2020 as National School Choice Week (NSCW) in the U.S. Senate, reminded Americans that “ high-quality K–12 education environments of all varieties are available in the United States, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and home schooling” and congratulated “students, parents, teachers, and school leaders from K–12 education environments of all varieties for their persistence, achievements, dedication, and contributions to society in the United States.”

NSCW will include more than 51,300 independently-planned events and activities nationwide, including school fairs, open houses, parent information nights, homeschool information sessions, and other activities. An estimated 13.7 million Americans will participate in the week or attend local events during the week.

Leading the effort to pass the U.S. Senate resolution were Senators Tim Scott and Dianne Feinstein, who were joined by 33 cosponsors.

“I have long believed that parents should have an informed and meaningful choice in their children’s education,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein. “A one-size-fits-all approach to our children’s education does not always work and different school models may work better for different students. That’s why I’m pleased to join my colleagues on a resolution highlighting the importance of school choice for parents and children.”

“As someone who was raised in a single-parent household in a distressed community, I know all too well what it’s like to feel overlooked. I firmly believe that a child’s zip code should not affect his or her access to quality education nor should it affect the child’s future, which is why I proudly support National School Choice Week,” said Senator Tim Scott. “We must ensure that our children have access to all paths to assure that they are receiving the education that will lead to success in the future.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Senators Scott and Feinstein, and to the entire U.S. Senate for recognizing the importance of celebrating all K-12 educational options and for encouraging parents to use the week to discover the right schools or learning environments for their individual children,“ said Andrew Campanella, president of NSCW. “The landscape of K-12 education in America today is filled with diversity and variety, and that is something that truly deserves recognition and celebration.”

NSCW is an independent public awareness effort designed to inform parents about their K-12 school choice options and to shine a positive spotlight on the importance of opportunity in K-12 education. NSCW is not political and does not support or oppose specific legislation.