Special to The Message
National School Choice Week 2024 begins Jan. 21 and ends Jan. 27 and will kick off with celebrations across all 50 states. Traditionally, this observance occurs the week before National Catholic Schools Week, which will begin Jan. 28 in the Diocese of Evansville and across the country.
The week-long celebration, which dates back to January 2011, aims to raise awareness of the different types of K-12 schools and educational options available to families in communities across the country, including private, traditional public, public charter, online and homeschooling options.
Schools also use the week to spotlight their achievements and accomplishments. The week is filled with fun and informative events, including school fairs, movie nights, capitol rallies, field trips, parades, talent shows and more.
Diocese of Evansville Superintendent Michelle Priar said, “National School Choice Week gives schools in our diocese an opportunity to celebrate the choice that families have to pursue an educational path that best suits their children’s needs.
“Embracing this week means advocating for expanded educational options, ensuring that every child has access to a learning environment that will help them develop into the individuals that God created them to be.”
The focus of the annual observance, according to National School Choice Week organizers, is empowering parents to choose schools for their children during the best time of year to start the process of selecting a school.
In the Diocese of Evansville, Catholic schools will welcome families to “Come and See” open house events set for Feb. 1, during National Catholic Schools Week.
School choice is important, organizers explained, because every child deserves an effective, challenging and motivating education that inspires them to be successful and achieve their dreams. However, children learn in different ways, have different talents, skills and challenges, so what might be a good school for one student might not be a good fit for another child. School choice allows parents to identify the best learning environments for each child.
For more information on National School Choice Week, visit https://schoolchoiceweek.com/.