WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) this week applauded the passage of a Senate resolution that he cosponsored, which was led by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), to commemorate this week as National School Choice Week.
“Parents know what is best for their own children,” Senator Romney said. “With this resolution, we commemorate National School Choice Week and affirm the freedom every family should have to choose the school that best meets their child’s needs, whether it be public, charter, homeschool, or otherwise.”
The full text of the resolution is below.
Designating the week of January 20 through January 26, 2019, as ‘‘National School Choice Week’’.
Whereas providing a diversity of choices in K–12 education empowers parents to select education environments that meet the individual needs and strengths of their children;
Whereas high-quality K–12 education environments of all varieties are available in the United States, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and home schooling;
Whereas talented teachers and school leaders in each of the education environments prepare children to achieve their dreams;
Whereas more families than ever before in the United States actively choose the best education for their children;
Whereas more public awareness of the issue of parental choice in education can inform additional families of the benefits of proactively choosing challenging, motivating, and effective education environments for their children;
Whereas the process by which parents choose schools for their children is nonpolitical, nonpartisan, and deserves the utmost respect; and
Whereas tens of thousands of events are planned to celebrate the benefits of educational choice during the ninth annual National School Choice Week, held the week of January 20 through January 26, 2019: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) designates the week of January 20 through January 26, 2019, as ‘‘National School Choice Week’’;
(2) congratulates students, parents, teachers, and school leaders from K–12 education environments of all varieties for their persistence, achievements, dedication, and contributions to society in the United States;
(3) acknowledges the 15th anniversary of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which, as of January 2019, has awarded more than 8,400 scholarships;
(4) encourages all parents, during National School Choice Week, to learn more about the education options available to them; and
(5) encourages the people of the United States to hold appropriate programs, events, and activities during National School Choice Week to raise public awareness of the benefits of opportunity in education.