School Choice Supporters Plan Major Whistle-Stop Rally In Chicago to Celebrate National School Choice Week 2013

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 2,300 students, parents, teachers and community leaders will rally at Chicago Union Station on Tuesday, Jan. 29 to celebrate the arrival of the National School Choice Week ‘Special,’ the nation's first cross-country, whistle-stop train tour in support of education reform. The rally will be the largest event along the train’s 14-city route, and one of the largest school choice rallies in Illinois history.

“Bold reformers have put Chicago on the school choice map, and we're looking forward to rallying for expansive and equitable school choice in Chicago, across Illinois and throughout the country”

The rally celebrates National School Choice Week 2013, the world's largest-ever celebration of effective education options for children. Speakers will discuss the benefits of public charter schooling in Illinois — and the need for greater funding equity for public charter schools — as well as the benefits of private and parochial schooling and the need to expand access to great schools for all children. The event begins at 6 p.m.

“Bold reformers have put Chicago on the school choice map, and we're looking forward to rallying for expansive and equitable school choice in Chicago, across Illinois and throughout the country,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “Providing every child in America with access to a quality school is the single most important issue we face as a nation.”

Speakers at the event include Campanella, Illinois Network of Charter Schools President Andrew Broy, Catholic Schools Superintendent Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, as well as parents and students who are benefiting from school choice in Illinois.

National School Choice Week is planning the event in cooperation with the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools, Democrats For Education Reform, Education Reform Now and Freedom To Learn Illinois.

This is the third annual National School Choice Week. Planned by a diverse, bipartisan coalition of citizens and organizations, National School Choice Week 2013, runs from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2 and will feature more than 3,500 events spanning all 50 states.

Supporters of National School Choice Week believe that states must do more to expand access to challenging and motivating educational options, from high-performing public schools to public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, digital and online learning and homeschooling.

The National School Choice Week ‘Special’ is scheduled to travel through the following cities, each of which will host whistle-stop-themed events with parents, students and dynamic speakers:

Los Angeles, CA (Friday, Jan. 25)
Albuquerque, NM (Saturday, Jan. 26)
Topeka, KS (Monday, Jan. 28)
Kansas City, MO (Monday, Jan. 28)
Chicago, IL (Tuesday, Jan. 29)
Milwaukee, WI (Wednesday, Jan. 30)
South Bend, IN (Wednesday, Jan. 30)
Toledo, OH (Thursday, Jan. 31)
Cleveland, OH (Thursday, Jan. 31)
Erie, PA (Thursday, Jan. 31)
Buffalo, NY (Friday, Feb. 1)
Rochester, NY (Friday, Feb. 1)
Albany, NY (Friday, Feb. 1)
New York, NY (Saturday, Feb. 2)

Track the tour’s progress, and check out exclusive photos and videos, online at www.schoolchoiceweek.com/train. Follow the tour on Twitter at @SCWSpecial, and Tweet about the tour with the hashtags #SCW and #whistlestop.

www.nationalschoolchoiceweek.com
@schoolchoiceweek
will@schoolchoiceweek.com