State lawmakers will visit schools of choice to celebrate National School Choice Week

National School Choice Week kicks off on Sunday, and a variety of events are planned across North Carolina to celebrate educational access. Legislators, students, families, and educators are taking part in a series of school tours and interactive read-alouds to spotlight the diverse educational options available to families in the Tar Heel State.

On Jan. 27 and Jan. 28, state leaders will visit three schools—RISE Charter School in Raleigh, Gaston Christian School in Gastonia, and Grace Community School in Fayetteville, according to a press release from the school-choice advocacy group Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina. Each event includes guided tours and opportunities for legislators to connect with students enrolled in schools of choice.

“National School Choice Week is an annual reminder of all the excellent educational choices offered in North Carolina and across our nation,” said Mike Long, president of PEFNC, in a statement. “More students than ever before are celebrating this year, and we are thrilled that members of our state legislature are eager to meet the students and families who are directly impacted by these programs. Whether traditional public, public charter, private, or home school, PEFNC is committed to empowering parents to find the best fit for their child’s education.”

Rep. Erin Paré, R-Wake, will participate in the event at RISE SE Raleigh Charter School on Monday. That same day, Sen. Brad Overcash, R-Gaston, will join the activities at Gaston Christian School, and Sen. Val Applewhite, D-Cumberland, will visit Grace Community School on Tuesday.

School choice has been gaining momentum in NC in recent years, with the state now offering a wide range of educational opportunities. Approximately 1.3 million students are enrolled in traditional public schools, nearly 140,000 are attending public charter schools, over 130,000 are in private schools, and more than 157,000 are educated through homeschooling. 

Programs like Opportunity Scholarships and the Education Savings Account (ESA+) have played a role in making private education and other nontraditional schooling options more accessible to families, regardless of their income or location.

“This week is about celebrating the choices and opportunities so many families now have,” Long said. “Education is not ‘one size fits all,’ and we are committed to supporting parents as they choose what’s best for their child—not just this week, but all year long.”

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