[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5297-5298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01817]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 19 / Wednesday, January 29, 2020 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 5297]]


                Proclamation 9982 of January 24, 2020

                
National School Choice Week, 2020

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Each child is a gift from God who has boundless 
                potential and deserves a fair shot at the American 
                Dream. To have that fair shot, children and their 
                families must be free to pursue an educational 
                environment that matches their individual learning 
                style, develops their unique talents, and prepares them 
                with the knowledge and character needed for fulfilling 
                and productive lives. During National School Choice 
                Week, we ensure America's brightest days are ahead by 
                again committing to fighting for every student's 
                freedom to pursue the best possible education.

                Sadly, for decades, we have tolerated an education 
                system that continues to fail too many children. At a 
                time when our students need the skills to succeed in an 
                ever-changing world, the ``Nation's Report Card'' shows 
                that about two-thirds of our children are not 
                Proficient readers. That means nearly two out of three 
                students are not where they need to be. Our great 
                Nation can no longer accept a two-tiered education 
                system in which opportunity is decided by a child's 
                neighborhood.

                The success of future generations determines the 
                success of our Nation. With school choice, we can 
                ensure the underserved children of our Nation are 
                forgotten no more.

                Education freedom helps inspire and educate students by 
                providing a learning environment that best fits their 
                unique needs, and it allows families to make choices 
                based on their individual situations. A growing number 
                of States and their communities are taking bold action 
                to ensure all students, regardless of background or 
                socioeconomic status, can receive a great education. I 
                applaud State, local, and tribal leaders who are 
                actively working to empower more families with 
                educational choice. The expansion of school choice, 
                including out-of-district public, charter, magnet, 
                private, religious, home, and online education 
                programs, has provided life-changing opportunities to 
                millions of students.

                My Administration is protecting and building upon 
                efforts to expand access to a wide range of high-
                quality education options. Today, I renew my call on 
                the Congress to focus on what is best for children and 
                pass a Federal tax credit to support State-based 
                educational choice programs. Through this historic 
                investment, more than one million more students will 
                receive an education that meets their needs, all 
                without taking a single dollar from America's great 
                public schools. I also renew the call for the Congress 
                to expand and make permanent the highly successful DC 
                Opportunity Scholarship Program, which has achieved 
                historic success under my Administration.

                Education can open any door. During this National 
                School Choice Week, we are heartened by the many 
                students whose lives have been changed by the freedom 
                to make their own educational choices. And we are 
                motivated to continue to advance educational choice by 
                the millions who are still denied the opportunity to 
                choose the educational path that best meets their 
                needs. We challenge all lawmakers to work to ensure 
                that every child has the opportunity to fulfill their 
                potential and achieve the American Dream.

[[Page 5298]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim January 26 to 
                February 1, 2020, as National School Choice Week.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fourth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2020-01817
Filed 1-28-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F0-P