AFP-WV Celebrates School Choice Week
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Americans for Prosperity-WV (AFP-WV) will celebrate School Choice Week with other state and national groups Sunday, January 21 – Saturday, January 27. National School Choice Week was founded in 2011 to promote the concept of all forms of school choice: district schools, district magnet schools, charter schools, private schools, and home schooling. In 2021, West Virginia passed the first universal educational savings (ESA) program, the Hope Scholarship.
“Every child deserves access to the education that is right for them,” said AFP-WV State Director Jason Huffman. “Educational freedom that puts kids first and empowers parents represents a rising tide that lifts all ships.”
To highlight school choice week, AFP-WV has released a video touting the success of the Hope Scholarship program. The Leavitts have five children, four of whom are in public school. But the system was not working for their daughter, McKinley (Mac), who was diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, expressive receptive communication disorder, and ADHD after preschool. This new testimonial highlights the impact Hope has had on students like Mac.
AFP-WV played a crucial role in the passage of the Hope Scholarship program as they began working with the Cardinal Institute, a nonprofit advocacy organization based in West Virginia in 2017.
The AFP-WV team also:
- Facilitated 10,000 patch calls to state lawmakers and the governor
- Held a virtual press conference with coalition members calling for educational freedom
- Penned an op-ed in the West Virginia Record that explained why it was time to reimagine K-12 education in West Virginia
- Issued a key vote alert urging members of the legislature to support the bill
The state started taking applications for the program in March 2022. Since then, eight states have either enacted or expanded ESA programs.
“The West Virginia Legislature passed the Hope Scholarship because we believe every child deserves a great education no matter where they live or what their circumstances. It was an honor to lead the nation on universal school choice and I am happy to see other states following our lead,” said State Senator Patrica Rucker.
National School Choice week has 70 state flagship events across 45 states, planned by 66 nonprofit organizations, including 33 school fairs; 20 governors proclaiming ‘School Choice Week’ in their state; 34 major landmarks across 19 states illuminating in yellow and red; and a total of 27,112 events across all 50 states.
AFP-WV will join its coalition partner, the Cardinal Institute, at the Morgantown School Fair with Love Your School-WV. The event will take place at the Erickson Alumni Center on Saturday, January 27th @ 10am – 1pm.
