270 Events and Activities in Iowa to Raise Awareness About School Choice

Hawkeye State Parents Encouraged to Look Into Education Options for Children During National School Choice Week; Governor Kim Reynolds Issues Proclamation Recognizing Jan. 21-27 as Iowa School Choice Week Des Moines – School Choice Week began in Iowa and across America this Sunday, with the goal of raising awareness about the options that parents have for their children's education. The Week will feature 270 events and activities across the Hawkeye State, including open house events at schools, school fairs, homeschool information sessions, and other celebrations. Nationwide, 32,240 events and activities are being organized to raise awareness during National School Choice Week (Jan. 21-27, 2018), and nearly 7 million Americans are expected to participate. It will be the largest series of education-related events and activities in U.S. history. The Week brings attention to the different education environments that are available for Iowa’s more than 725,000 children. For example, families in Iowa can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. The state's public school open enrollment policy is one of the nation's broadest and most accommodating. The state also offers a private school choice program and tuition-free, public online schooling. Governor Kim Reynolds issued an official proclamation recognizing Jan. 21-27 as Iowa School Choice Week. In addition, the counties of Dallas and Hardin and the cities of Camanche, Calmar, Creston, and Council Bluffs have issued proclamations recognizing School Choice Week in their community. “Students learn better when they have a choice about the type of the school they want to attend. That strengthens the entire nation, when kids can get the education that best fits them and that’s why we celebrate National School Choice Week,” said Ihsan Yaseen, principal of Islamic School of Des Moines, a private school serving 100 students in grades PK to 8 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Celebrated since 2011, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort. The Week is nonpartisan and nonpolitical, and it is not related to any legislative advocacy campaign. “Iowa leaders have demonstrated to the country that school choice can work effectively in a rural state,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “We encourage parents across the state to use National School Choice Week as an opportunity to evaluate school options for their children.” To download a guide to school choice in Iowa, or to learn more about featured events in the Hawkeye State, visit https://schoolchoiceweek.com/states/iowa. For information on events planned near you, please send us an email with information about your coverage area to pressoffice@schoolchoiceweek.com. # # #