Friday, January 20, 2012
Inside INdiana Business
INDIANAPOLIS –As the country prepares to celebrate National School Choice Week (January 22–28), sweeping changes in Indiana’s educational landscape have put the Hoosier state squarely in the national spotlight. With the largest first-year school voucher program ever and one of the most progressive charter school environments in the country, Indiana has created a model of innovation that will be discussed at education forums and townhalls across the nation and the state next week.
National School Choice Week, organized by a diverse coalition of individuals and organizations, will feature nearly 300 events in all 50 states. Events planned for Indiana include:
• The Second Annual Indiana Leadership School Choice Week Forum will be held in Indianapolis on January 24th at 6 p.m. at WellPoint Inc.. This forum is being presented by the Indiana Leadership Forum in partnership with the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, School Choice Indiana, and the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association. A panel discussion on education reform in the Hoosier State will include: Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett; President of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice Robert Enlow; President of the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association Russ Simnick, and Vice President for Education and Workforce Development Policy, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Derek Redelman.
• School Choice Indiana will also co-host two townhall meetings, in conjunction with Americans for Prosperity, in Evansville and Richmond on January 26 and 27. In the meetings, local families will have the opportunity to learn more about the school choice options that are available to them.
• To RSVP for the above events or to find additional information about National School Choice Week events in Indiana, please visit http://www.schoolchoiceweek.com.
“We are excited about giving parents the opportunity to learn more about school choice and how it can help them meet the unique learning needs of their children,” said Lindsey Brown, executive director of School Choice Indiana. “We now have a variety of high quality educational options for Hoosier families no matter what their income level or zip code is.”
Earlier this week, Gov. Mitch Daniels officially proclaimed Jan. 22-28 as National School Choice Week in Indiana. The governors of 11 other states have also issued proclamations in support of the week.
Education reform will also be the focus on February 15 when the “Ed Reform Rocks: Demand Great Schools Rally” brings school choice supporters from all over the state together at the Indiana State Capitol in Indianapolis. More information about the Rally is available at http://www.edreformrocksrally.com.
In conjunction with the Rally, School Choice Indiana and other local organizations will partner to release a comprehensive guide to all Marion County schools. The guide will enable local families to make an informed decision about which school(s) can best meet the unique learning needs of their children. It will provide information on public and private secular and parochial schools in the area inclusive of their curriculum offerings, performance data, geographic location, and transportation options. The guide will be available free of charge online and in print, and parents will be able to pick up copies at various locations around the county.
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About School Choice Indiana: School Choice Indiana, Inc. is a non-partisan, statewide organization dedicated to the principle that providing parents with real choices in the education of their children will improve educational outcomes and improve the quality of education, both in private and public schools. More information could be found at http://www.schoolchoiceindiana.com
About National School Choice Week: National School Choice Week provides an unprecedented opportunity, every January, to shine a spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children. Planned by a diverse and nonpartisan coalition of individuals and organizations, National School Choice Week features special events and activities that highlight support for school choice programs and proposals. More information about National School Choice Week and events in your area could be found at http://www.schoolchoiceweek.com
Source: School Choice Indiana
