Local Celebrations Mark National School Choice Week

At least two Stateline area schools are holding events to coincide with National School Choice Week, which takes place January 25th through the 31st.

St. James School in Belvidere plans an Open House for prospective students and their families on Tuesday, January 27 at 9 a.m. The school is located at 320 Logan Avenue,  in Belvidere. St. James is a private school serving grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1–8, with a student enrollment of 124.

Meanwhile, St. Paul Lutheran School will celebrate with an event featuring the school band, students singing songs, a book fair, a craft table, a balloon man, a magician, food, and more. It will take place Sunday, February 8 at Noon at the school, located at 811 Locust Street in Rockford.

St. James and St. Paul are two of more than 9,000 schools taking part in National School Choice Week. Last week, we talked with Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. He says leaders in states across the country are enacting policies that put parents back in charge of their children’s education. We asked him if he’s encouraged by what’s happening in Illinois and how one school in New York is improving education by paying teachers a six-figure salary.