By Nick Gale, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO)  National School Choice Week begins today in Chicago and across the country. There are 723 events planned in the greater Chicago, Evanston, Gary, and Valparaiso area to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 22,392 events nationwide.

The events in the Chicago area include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups.

School Choice Week provides families in the Chicago area with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year.

Families in Illinois can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Prairie State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive tax credits to attend private schools.

Families in Indiana can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Hoosier State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has a programs allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships or tax credits to attend private schools.

@ 2017 WLS-AM News