PACAPE Announces “PA School Choice Champion Legislator of the Year” at School Choice Week Event LANCASTER, PA (January 30, 2015) – The Pennsylvania Council on American Private Education (PACAPE) presented its “PA School Choice Champion Legislator of the Year” Award to Pennsylvania Senator Dominic F. Pileggi (R-Chester) during National School Choice Week at a special ceremony planned for Thursday, January 29, 2015. 
“Senator Pileggi is a hero who throughout his illustrious and distinguished career has provided a legacy of private education and school choice to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” noted Dr. D. Merle Skinner, Co-Coordinator of PACAPE. “I am honored to have a chance to work for PA families in conjunction with Senator Pileggi’s leadership,” said Sean McAleer, Director of Education for Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.
The event, which was held at 9:00 a.m. at Statesman Hall at the Doubletree Resort, was timed to coincide with National School Choice Week, a nationwide celebration of the education options from traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, and home schools. More than 450 people attended the award ceremony which was held during the ACSI Administrator Board Conference. PACAPE is organized to provide a framework for communication and cooperation among nonpublic jurisdictions and schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, preschool through secondary. In addition, PACAPE strives to maintain productive relationships with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Board of Education, the state and federal government, and other agencies which impact quality education and is a part of State Cape Network of the National Council on American Private Education (CAPE). National School Choice Week (January 25 – 31, 2015) was America’s largest-ever celebration of opportunity in education. Featuring more than 11,000 independently-organized events across all 50 states, the Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for children. National School Choice Week is independent, nonpolitical, and nonpartisan, and embraces all types of educational choice – from traditional public schools to public charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. For more information, contact Dr. D. Merle Skinner at merle_skinner@champion.org.