Indiana to Take the Spotlight During National School Choice Week as Reforms Innovate Nation

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the country prepares to celebrate National School Choice Week (January 22–28), sweeping changes in Indiana's educational landscape have put the Hoosier state squarely in the national spotlight thanks to the largest first-year school voucher program ever and a progressive charter school environment that have served a nationwide model of innovation.

National School Choice Week, organized by a diverse coalition of individuals and organizations, will feature nearly 300 events in all 50 states. Events planned for Indiana include:

• The Second Annual Indiana Leadership School Choice Week Forum will be held in Indianapolis on January 24th at 6 p.m. at WellPoint Inc., and is presented by the Indiana Leadership Forum, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, School Choice Indiana, and the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association. Featured panelists include: Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett; President of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice Robert Enlow; President of the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association Russ Simnick, and Vice President, Education and Workforce Development Policy, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Derek Redelman.
• School Choice Indiana will also co-host two townhall meetings with families in conjunction with Americans for Prosperity, in Evansville and Richmond on January 26 and 27.
• To RSVP for the above events or to find additional information about National School Choice Week events in Indiana, please visit http://www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

"We are excited about giving parents the opportunity to learn more about school choice and how it can help them meet the learning needs of their children," said Lindsey Brown, executive director of School Choice Indiana. "We now have a variety of high quality educational options for Hoosier families no matter what their income level or zip code is."

Also taking place on February 15 is the "Ed Reform Rocks: Demand Great Schools Rally," which will bring school choice supporters from all over the state together at the Indiana State Capitol. More information about the Rally is available at http://www.edreformrocksrally.com.

In conjunction with the rally, School Choice Indiana and other local organizations will release a comprehensive guide to all Marion County schools, enabling local families to make an informed decision about which school(s) can best meet their child's needs. It will be available online and for free around the county.

SOURCE School Choice Indiana