National School Choice Week was held Jan. 22-28 in Washington and across the country, and students and staff at Mercer Island’s Yellow Wood Academy celebrated with donuts, scarves and a group photo on Jan. 25.

Yellow Wood, which started in the basement of St. Monica’s in 1982, is a nonprofit private school that provides one-on-one instruction. It serves a wide range of students, from those who desire a greater challenge or more flexible schedule, to those with a need for a specific educational approach. The name of the school comes from the first line of Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.”

“We’ve been working all along with the idea that there isn’t just one way to go to school,” said Dean of Students Susan Small. “We’ve embraced the idea of school choice ever since we started.”

School Choice Week provides families in Washington with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year, and raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options.

The events in Washington, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups.

National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning and homeschooling. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.