The week of January 22-28 was National School Choice Week 2017. Over 40 events were held in Vermont organized by students, parents, and teachers to raise awareness about educational options and Vermont's unique school choice system.
What is Choice?
Over 1/3 of Vermont's school districts offer school choice for students through public tuitioning dollars for some or all grade levels. This system evolved over the past 150 years. It started with towns that were too small to operate their schools and instead sent their students to neighboring school districts. This was then expanded to include independent schools and eventually a separate mechanism was put in place for all public schools to exchange students with each other.
School choice, gives students and parents the ability to find an educational environment that works best for them and provides opportunities to Vermont's most rural and disadvantaged students.
State House Rally
On January 25th dozens of students, parents, and teachers from Vermont's independent schools descended on Montpelier to Celebrate National School Choice Week.
CFV live streamed a press conference featuring author and education reform leader Kevin Chavous:
Independent schools were asked to submit mannequin challenge videos highlighting what is special about their school. The top submissions were awarded $10,000 in scholarship money.
#1 - Bellcate School
#2 - Sharon Academy
Vermont Day School
Long Trail School
Thaddeus Stevens School
Radio and TV Coverage:
Several media outlets covered National School Choice Week in Vermont. Here are a few:
WKTV Radio: Interviewed CFV about NSCW
Vote for Vermont: Discussion about School Choice in Vermont