By Kathryn Hickok
January 21-27 is National School Choice Week, the world’s largest annual celebration of parental choice and effective education options for all children. In 2024, 183 Oregon schools and organizations will participate in National School Choice Week to raise awareness about K-12 education in our state.
The landscape of options for Oregon students includes district public schools, public charter schools, private and parochial schools, homeschooling, magnet schools, online learning, and microschools. Different learning environments meet the needs of unique students in the ways they learn best.
Empowering parents to choose among all options unlocks the potential of each child. Last year, seventeen states enacted or expanded school choice programs. Approximately 20 million American children—about 36% of students—are now eligible to participate in a private choice program.
As part of National School Choice Week, Education Freedom for Oregon and the National School Choice Awareness Foundation will host a school fair at the Salem Convention Center on Saturday, January 20th. This free event will showcase Oregon schools representing a range of education options. Attendees can meet educators and get questions answered to help make informed choices for their families.
For more information about this fun, family-friendly event, visit https://schoolchoiceweek.com/events/salem-school-fair-2024/.
Kathryn Hickok is Executive Vice President at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon’s free market public policy research organization, and Director of Cascade’s Children’s Scholarship Fund-Oregon program.
