By Erika Hall | Posted: Thu 6:59 PM, Jan 24, 2019 — WIBW
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Community leaders rallied at the Statehouse on Thursday to mark National School Choice Week.
Hundreds gathered chanting “One voice, school choice,” in an effort to shine a positive spotlight on education options for Kansas students.
Students, parents, teachers, and other supporters crowded in to celebrate the week’s flagship event.
“We are beyond the hour when every family can choose for themselves what school they want their child to attend.” Superintendent of Urban Preparatory Academy Wade Moore, Jr., said.
In Kansas, parents can choose traditional public school, charter school, or private school, as well as online learning, or home education.
6th-grade private school student Junia Smith said switching from public school was a positive for her.
“The reason I like my school is because when I go there it feels like I can be myself, and I don’t have to change what I do, or how I act,” Smith said.
Without a scholarship, she wouldn’t have been able to attend Urban Prep.
“We need to free the children because if they are forced into a school that’s not working for them where do they go to get their lives back.” Speaker David Landwehr asked.
Superintendent Moore said the goal is not only allowing a students’ parents to choose their school of choice, but they want the money provided by taxpayers for each public school student to follow the student if they choose to attend another school.
Opponents of the idea say tax dollars need to be focused on improving public schools.
This week nearly 40,000 events will be held across the nation in celebration of National School Choice Week.