School Choice Week encouraging options for parents

Educators and students across the nation are gearing up to celebrate National School Choice Week Jan. 26-Feb. 1. 

“More states than ever before are empower parents by giving grater access to different types of schools, “said Andrew Campanella, president of the National School Choice organization. “These days parents can choose from open enrollment public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, online learning academies, private schools and homeschooling.”

Following the passage of the Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) in 2013, the state became one of 23 states offering private school choice options to public school students.

The AAA gave students in failing public schools the option to receive tax credits and privately-funded scholarships to transfer to non-failing public or private institutions.

Despite the new options to Alabama students, the state has currently accepted only three of the six school choice options National School Choice Week endorses and encourages. 

One of the least common of the six alternative education choices is online learning academies, which only 29 states allow.

Virtual academies, which can be state-operated or district run, instruct students through rigorous online or digital curricula.

Intradistrict and interdistrict open enrollment allows parents to select the best public schools for their children, regardless of where those schools are located.

Magnet schools are traditionally funded and tuition-free public schools with a theme or aligned curriculum, such as science, math or the arts.

Like homeschooling options, magnet schools are recognized in all 50 states.

Of the 4,000 magnet schools in the country, 75 percent have waiting lists for enrollment.

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia currently allow public charter schools.

Charter schools have been the subject of much debate in Alabama.

These non-traditional public schools are created by either a state or local charting board, which has the authority of the state to create a school.

“Charter schools are independent public schools, which are able to be a little more innovative and flexible in terms of bureaucratic requirements,” Campanella said. “When charted, there are outline performance measures the schools have to meet. So they have built-in accountability. Charter schools are funded through appropriations from the state, though usually not at the same level of per-pupil expenditure as a traditional public school.”

Of the six choices available to parents in the United States, Alabama students have access to private school choice, homeschooling and magnet schools only.

Throughout the week, schools across the country will be hosting various events celebrating parents’ right to choose what education is best for their children.

Events in other states will encourage parents to speak out for more choices.

“The goal of National School Choice Week is to get information to parents, and to let them know they do have choices,” Campanella said. “We’re also giving people in local communities a platform they can use to demand even greater options in their states. We want to make sure their voices are heard by leaders at the state and national levels.” 

National School Choice Week organizers will also be traveling to 14 Whistle Stop events throughout the country.

One Whistle Stop is scheduled for noon, Jan. 24, at Woodrow Hall in Birmingham.

As the current school year draws to a close, Campanella encourages any parent thinking of changing their child’s school to begin looking as soon as possible.

“It’s already time to start looking for a school if you want to make a change next year,” he said. “If parents wait too long they’re going to find a lot of the schools they’re looking at are filled up.”

National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness campaign funded by several foundations supporting school choice.

The non-profit group isn’t a subsidiary of any other organization.

More information is available at schoolchoiceweek.com.