Public, Private or Home School: Choosing an education to meet your child's needs
With public education frequenting headlines and private schools a challenge in today’s economy, many parents wonder what kind of education is right for children. Before making a decision, one valuable step parents can take is to conduct thorough research. Here are some questions to help you explore options.
Find the perfect school for your child with the KC Parent Education Guide!
Public Education:
What are your child’s interests?
While most schools offer the same core curriculum, availability of electives and co-curricular opportunities varies. If your child is interested in the military, for instance, you might find out whether a school offers a JROTC program. If your child is a hands-on learner and enjoys designing and building, a school with a strong engineering program might be a better fit. Help your children discover what they love to do, then look for a school to help them develop those skills.
Where does the district put its money?
Talk to parents, teachers and administrators to find out where the district’s values lie. Some schools’ budgets show a strong value of sports teams and coaches—and meet the needs of many students in the process. Other schools focus on hiring the most exclusive faculty possible—and have a pay scale to do just that—because those teachers strive to infuse diverse and effective instructional strategies into the classroom. Are the facilities well-maintained and comfortable? Are its resources adequate? Visit the library and examine the selection of books available.
How can I best support public schooling?
Get involved. The highest-achieving students generally have involved parents keeping track of what and how their kids are doing. Encourage your children to participate in a school activity, then support that choice. Follow grades. If you see problem areas, find out whether your child needs tutoring or simply a quiet, well-lit place to study. Contact teachers to find out how to best support the teacher and your child. Establishing good rapport with teachers is one of the best steps to take.
Private Education
Parochial or non-parochial?
Are you looking for a religious or secular education? Many private schools are sponsored by religious affiliations, but not all. If choosing a faith-based school, find out whether they primarily serve a given church body or whether they operate as an outreach school, accepting students regardless of church affiliation. Some church-based schools only accept the children of members.
Is the private school accredited?
Most schools are accredited by a governing institution. Find out what that institution is and examine the standards by which it classifies schools. While colleges look at a variety of data when considering applicants, the accreditation of the secondary institution issuing the diploma is a strong factor in the application process for many competitive programs and universities.
What curriculum does the school use?
Ask to sit in on a class at your child’s grade level. Examine the curriculum and cognitive level of instruction taking place. You want your child to be challenged, not overwhelmed. You also want to be sure resources and personnel are available to help your child when he does struggle. Examine a textbook. Does it seem appropriate to your child’s level? Are students working in a variety of learning styles: visual, aural and bodily-kinesthetic? Do the curriculum and faculty encourage students to explore their own intelligences?
Homeschooling
How can you provide your child the social and cultural experiences necessary?
Effective homeschoolers often hook up with local organizations to provide children opportunities for social interaction and cultural development. Groups get together for exploratory experiences that not only expose children to a variety of enriching activities but also allow for the development of necessary interpersonal skills. Do your research and find out what groups are available near you. Find a group whose goals and values mesh with yours.
How can you meet your child’s needs in all curricular areas?
There are useful local and online resources to help parents effectively meet the curricular needs of their children. Homeschooling groups can share specialized resources and provide networks, opening avenues in areas where the parent might not feel confident as an instructor. Part of effective homeschooling is finding resources to meet the needs of your child in all academic areas, and with the help of others, those needs can be fully met.
What are the provisions for homeschooling in Missouri and Kansas?
Missouri has provisions for homeschooling, including documentation, curricular requirements and attendance. Information for Missouri is online at http://DESE.MO.Gov/SchoolLaw/HomeSch/
Kansas views homeschooling as education at a non-accredited private school and requires registration and fulfillment of a specified number of instruction hours. Kansas statutes are at http://www.KSDE.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1684.
Whether choosing public, private or home school, the most important consideration is to carefully evaluate and meet the unique needs of your child.
Find the perfect school for your child with the KC Parent Education Guide!
Kimberly Brownlee is a proud wife and mother of three boys. She teaches English in the Liberty School District.