Metro East Sun

Gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin and lieutenant governor candidate Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Litchfield) recently took to Twitter to raise awareness for School Choice Week and the variety of schooling options available to Illinois parents.

"Whether our children receive a good education should not be determined by their zip code," Irvin wrote in a Jan. 28 Twitter post. "During #SchoolChoiceWeek, it’s important we empower parents and make sure they have an informed choice in their children’s education."

National School Choice Week was observed Jan. 23 through 29, and school choice has been a topic of conversation for legislators for several years. A variety of schooling options are available in Illinois, including traditional public schools, magnet schools, homeschooling.

"Too many students are trapped in failing schools, and the pandemic has left many falling behind in their studies," Bourne wrote in a Jan. 28 Twitter post. "EVERY family should have the opportunity to send their child to a good school, not just the fortunate few.  I will continue prioritize school choice in Springfield."

As public schools across the state resort to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are seeking alternatives to traditional schooling, including private and charter schools.

"The reason the pandemic has inspired so many families to look into school choice is because families are frustrated by disruptions and they are concerned about learning loss," National School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella said, according to The Center Square.

According to The Center Square, there are more than 1,500 private schools and hundreds of charter and magnet schools in the state.

Campanella told The Center Square that 52% of parents considered alternative school options in 2021 and that 18% of parents made the change.