National School Choice Week Whistle-Stop Train Tour To Journey Across America

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Millions of American children are denied the opportunity to pursue their dreams because they are forced to attend failing schools. The result is heartbreaking: Only about one-third of America’s eighth graders are proficient in reading or math. Only 13 percent of high school seniors are proficient in American history. One child drops out of school every 26 seconds.

“These are the kinds of educational options we want for all children”

But a nationwide whistle-stop train tour aims to raise awareness about the need to improve education through one simple but powerful option for parents and students: School Choice.

“Just as whistle-stop tours were used to promote civil rights like women’s suffrage to the end of racial segregation, the National School Choice Week ‘Special’ will draw attention to the great civil rights fight of the 21^st century: school choice for all Americans regardless of their race, income, zip code or learning ability,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week.

Throughout the tour, thousands of concerned citizens are expected to rally at special events that will feature speeches by students who are succeeding in school choice programs, parents, national education reform leaders and elected officials. The tour includes major whistle-stop events in the following cities:

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)

Beyond the whistle-stop tour, National School Choice Week 2013 will feature more than 3,500 events organized by students, parents and community leaders across all 50 states.

The Week focuses on six educational choices designed to help children secure the education that is right for them. Those choices include: high-performing traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, digital learning and home schooling.

“These are the kinds of educational options we want for all children,” Campanella said.

“School choice helped open the door to a brighter future for my son, Gabriel,” said Valerie Evans, a school choice mom. “School choice is a lifesaver for my child and ensures he will be in a safe environment first and foremost. It means he can now be educated in an environment that is not only safe, but he will get the education he needs and deserves. Without a quality education from grade school, he won’t have the foundation he needs to get into college, graduate and be a success.”

For more information on National School Choice Week, visit: http://www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

www.schoolchoiceweek.com

@schoolchoiceweek

will@schoolchoiceweek.com