Let's Set An Amazing Education Record This School Choice Week

(NewsUSA) - Did you ever thumb through the Guinness Book of World Records as a kid, awed by the amazing feats? This year, families can help set records in ways that may not make headlines, but will make a difference.

This January 24-30, families and educators will participate in America's largest annual celebration of K-12 school choices. During National School Choice Week, millions of students, teachers, parents, and community leaders will celebrate the importance of education and discuss what options they hope to see in the future -- and you're invited to join.

Most years, these conversations take place at rallies, student showcases, multi-school fairs, and other huge, in-person community events. This year, school choice celebrants have shown their adaptability in light of COVID-19, planning drive-in movie nights, virtual conferences, car parades, and other safe activities that are diverse and unique, just as students are.

What motivates so many Americans to celebrate School Choice Week? For some, it's firsthand experience of how a great school fit can change a life. For others, it's the recognition that different shapes and sizes of classrooms and learning techniques help kids succeed. For many, it's a desire to celebrate inspiring teachers or innovative schools -- traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online schools, or homeschooling groups.

The Week's energy and momentum is an amazing reminder to focus on the good. Yes, we must absolutely evaluate our children's learning options and look for ways to grow. COVID-19's learning disruptions revealed far too many ways that our education system must improve.

But we also should celebrate the schools that are doing an awesome job, the teachers who have personally checked in with families to ensure remote learning's success, and the parents who've stepped up to help their child learn to use Zoom or Webex during a frenetic time.

If you'd like to be a part of this record-breaking Week, it's not too late. You can celebrate your education choice by thanking a teacher or sharing your family's education story on social media with the hashtag #schoolchoiceweek. Plus, you can find comprehensive, unbiased information about your state's options at schoolchoiceweek.com. Together, let's set a record in shining light on K-12 education.

Andrew Campanella is president of National School Choice Week and the author of "The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child."