HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today proclaimed Jan. 24-29 as "Pennsylvania School Choice Week" to complement National School Choice Week efforts and activities.

"Every child in Pennsylvania deserves a challenging, motivating, effective education," said Governor Corbett. "School choice isn't about choosing one model over another. It's about giving families the freedom to choose the school – public, private, charter, religious, secular – that will help their children learn and grow. Every child is different – which is why families should have a range of options for how to educate their children."

In his proclamation, Governor Corbett noted that education reform is an issue that transcends ideology and political party affiliation.

"Research demonstrates conclusively that providing children with multiple schooling options improves academic performance," the Governor's proclamation said.

National School Choice Week is a collaborative effort by more than 150 organizations to raise public awareness about educational choice, including public charter schools, magnet schools, virtual education, homeschooling, tax credit scholarships, and opportunity scholarships.

For more information, visit www.pa.gov.

Media contact:  Kevin Harley, 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: The text of Governor Corbett's proclamation follows:

PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

January 24-29, 2011

WHEREAS, all children in Pennsylvania should have the right to the highest-quality schools possible; and

WHEREAS, citizens across Pennsylvania  agree that improving the quality of education in Pennsylvania and expanding access to great schools should be an issue of importance to our state's leaders; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania and across our nation demonstrates conclusively that providing children with multiple schooling options improves academic performance; and

THEREFORE, I, Tom Corbett, do hereby recognize January 24-29, 2011 as PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK in Pennsylvania, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.

Tom Corbett, Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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http://www.governor.state.pa.us