National #SchoolChoice Week 2018: Recognizing the Diverse Career Goals And Academic Needs of Students
January 21-27, 2018 is National School Choice Week! President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation marking the event.
In the words of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos,
School choice is not about picking this building or that classroom – it’s much bigger than that. It’s about freedom to find the best way to learn and grow. Learning can, should, and will look different for each unique child, and we should celebrate that!
During the week, ED highlighted success stories of students who were able to find the right fit for their educations.
School Choice Opened My Eyes to a Diverse And Culturally Enriched World
“Today, I’m a junior at Howard University. But things could have turned out differently if I didn’t have the opportunity to pursue a different educational path when I was younger.
“Thankfully, my parents were given the option to exercise school choice, which is, unfortunately, not the norm for every student in America.”
Discover more about how Kendra and her family were able to choose the best learning environment for her in our Medium post.
Education is the Ticket Out of Poverty
Toni Airaksinen, a current senior at Barnard College in New York, illustrates the powerful impact of school choice and how a student’s potential for prosperity can be supported with access to educational options.
“My family was constantly faced with difficult situations due to our lack of finances. They didn’t have time to worry about my schooling. But, I knew I wanted something better out of life,” says Toni.
Read more about how Toni’s “humble beginnings did not prevent her from the accomplishment of graduating high school and going on to college” on Medium.
School Choice Helps Student with Disabilities Reclaim the Path to Postsecondary Success
Trevor Beauchamp of La Crescenta, California, was born with spastic cerebral palsy, a condition that severely limits his mobility and requires extra effort, even when walking a few steps. Understanding the importance of education, he willingly embraced the daily struggle to navigate his school campus’s hilly terrain. After he broke his knee and was given little accommodation, he and his mother re-evaluated his school options.
Find out more about Trevor’s story and how he and his mother were able to find the perfect fit for him on Medium.
