National School Choice Week 2015: Tips for Choosing a New School

This week is National School Choice Week, an annual event aimed at raising awareness and empowering parents to choose the learning environment that works for their child, whether that is a traditional public school, a charter school, a private school, homeschooling, or an online school.

The message of school choice is one wholeheartedly embraced by K12. Families and educators experience firsthand the incredible difference that a change of schools can make for students. K12’s mission from the start has been to remove barriers that keep children from reaching their full potential, by providing them access to exceptional curriculum, tools, and support, regardless of geographic location or financial circumstance.

But the freedom to choose your own school raises a lot of questions about what type of school is best. In the blog post excerpted below, Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week, offers some excellent tips for choosing a school for your child.

If you’re considering a new school for your child, these steps can help you through the process. But the most important thing to remember is this: A good school is a school that’s right for your child.

1. Start right now. It might seem like a good idea to wait until summer break, or at least until the spring, to decide whether to send your child to a different school for the 2014-15 school year. But don’t wait to start looking at your options—start the process right now. Seats in great schools are already filling up for the 2014-15 year!

Start by asking yourself, and your children: what matters most, to you, in a school? Is it academics, school safety, an educational theme or focus, a specific style of instruction, the school’s values, the qualifications of teachers, the size of classes, or other factors? Make a list.

2. Research your options. The reality is: you do have choices, even if they may seem limited. Find out what types of school choice options are available to you. Some states offer “open enrollment” in public schools, which empowers parents to send their children to schools in different districts. Other states and localities have charter and magnet schools. In some states, you can receive scholarships (either publicly funded or privately funded) to send your children to private and faith-based schools. And now, more than half of US states have full-time, online schools!

Remember: each state has different policies, and school choice laws often vary by city, district, or locality, too. During National School Choice Week, avail yourselves of school fairs, open houses, and special events so that you can learn more about these opportunities, and make sure to visit the websites of state-based school choice or education policy organizations for more information, too.

3. Make a list of potential schools and visit them with your children. After you’ve researched the different types of educational opportunities that are available to your family, start making a list of schools that might meet your criteria. Then, visit each of the schools that are on your target list. While you’re there, ask lots of questions. Your visit and your interviews with teachers and administrators should give you a sense of the school’s culture.

Is the culture of the school one of high expectations? Do the adults in the building seem to enjoy being there? Do the students in the classrooms seem engaged, well-behaved? Is there enthusiasm and excitement? Is there an expectation that every student in that school will be prepared for college and a career? You want to choose a school with high expectations, a cohesive culture, consistent discipline, and a talented, motivated staff.

4. Talk to other parents- and to your children. Before making your decision, ask parents of other students who attend your target schools about their experiences. You’ll want to ask specifically how the school handles parent involvement. If the school encourages parents to ask questions and be involved, that’s a good thing. If parents are treated like a nuisance, consider staying away. Parental involvement is key to student success. And don’t forget to ask your children about their impressions and their concerns. Sometimes, the answers to these questions can be the most helpful!

The more research you do, the better choices you can make. With time and legwork, you can provide your child with access to a great educational environment.

I like to tell people that they should spend more time looking at schools for their children then they do when they shop around for a new car. If a car doesn’t work out, after two years, you can trade it in; if your child’s school doesn’t work out, it’s hard to recapture two years of lost learning. School choice is important!

For more information about School Choice Week and the more than 5,500 events planned nationwide, go here. And, be sure to follow @k12learn and follow the conversation with the hashtag #SCW.

This post is an updated version of an article that originally appeared on ThinkTank12.