More than 1,000 charter school students, parents, teachers and administrators withstood the windy, cold rainy conditions to let their voices be heard at the Rally for School Choice at the Capitol, Tuesday morning. The theme for the Rally was “One United Voice. More School Choice.”
Then event was held to honor National School Choice Week (Jan. 23-29). Participating schools included Atlanta Preparatory Academy, DeKalb PATH Academy, Heritage Prep Academy (Atlanta), Imagine Schools (Mableton, Smyrna and Atlanta), KIPP WAYS (Atlanta), Macon Academy, Pataula Academy (Edison, Ga.), Scholars Academy (Riverdale).
Gov. Nathan Deal proclaimed the week “National School Choice Week” in Georgia. Here is the text of the proclamation:
A Proclamation Commemorating Georgia School Choice Week
WHEREAS all children in Georgia should have the right to the highest-quality schools possible; and
WHEREAS citizens across Georgia agree that improving the quality of education in Georgia and expanding access to great schools should be an issue of importance to our state’s leaders; and
WHEREAS Georgia has a multitude of high-quality public schools, public charter schools, and nonpublic schools; and
WHEREAS the vital cause of education reform is one that transcends ideology and political party affiliation;
WHEREAS research in Georgia and across our nation demonstrates conclusively that providing children with multiple schooling options improves academic performance; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, [Name] do hereby recognize January 23-29, 2011 as Georgia SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK in our STATE OF GEORGIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.
