Next week – January 24-30 – marks the sixth annual National School Choice Week. Created to “raise awareness of quality K-12 education options for children and families in communities across the country,” the week features a whopping 16,140 events showcasing the importance of letting parents choose the education they believe best suits their child.

In preparation for the week, here are four brief school choice facts you should know about:

1. 1 in 5 Students Do Not Attend A Traditional Public School

Recent data from the Fordham Foundation show that a little over 20% of America’s students have chosen to opt-out of their traditional public school and choose some other form of education, including charter and private schools.

2. Most People Support for School Choice

Two of the most popular forms of school choice include tax credits and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). A whopping 60% percent of Americans support both of these options!

3. Half of American Parents Wish Their Child Didn’t Have to Attend Public School

According to the 2015 Schooling in America Survey, 50% of parents would either choose a private school or homeschooling for their child if they had the option. A lack of financial resources is the main hindrance to this goal for many families.

4. School Choice Offers a Variety of Benefits to Students, Parents, and the General Public

A majority of school choice studies have found that school choice raises the academic outcomes of students. Additional evidence suggests that children involved in school choice programs are less likely to be imprisoned and more likely to have a higher income as adults. And despite fears to the contrary, school choice programs have also been found to be cost-saving for public schools.

Image Credit: School Choice Week