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Outside of
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Don't
care for your child's public school? What are your options? If you or
your children are unhappy with a current situation, you might have other options
for schooling.
 | Work with your school. Volunteer
your time at the library, in the classroom, at school functions. Supplement
your child's public education with lessons at home. Keep in touch with your
children and how they're doing and what they're learning, and then don't be
shy about speaking up on their behalf. Do it gently, patiently and
professionally, but do speak up. Teachers and administrators won't know you
have a problem unless you say so. |
| Move your child to a different
classroom. Sometimes teachers and students just don't get along. Not every
student learns well from even very good teachers. If your child is struggling
with a particular teacher, and it's beginning to affect your child's interest
in learning, consider speaking to administrators about transferring your child
to another classroom. We do recommend you avoid having conversations become
accusatory or inflammatory. Administrators will be much more receptive to the
suggestion that there simply is a personality clash, and you don't want a
bitter teacher to continue to affect your child's learning environment. |
| Move to a different school within
your district. Some states allow parents to move their children to
different schools within the district. Some states will allow parents to do it
if the family has moved, if the parents' workplaces are closer to a different
school, or if a child's caregivers lives closer to another school. Contact
your school district office for information on the rules in your state. |
| Look at other options for schooling.
Be careful while doing this -- in many states, standards for some of these
options are in flux or nonexistent, and consequently the quality of education
varies widely. Researchers at the Brookings Institution's Brown Center found in 2002 (based on data from
1999-2001) that students in charter schools, for example, are scoring
significantly below students in public schools in both reading and math
skills. Therefore, do your research prior to enrolling your child or handing over
any money. Make sure the teachers are credentialed and that administrators are
experienced in all aspects of education and management. Make sure that money
is spent on education, not just on administration, that student performance
meets or exceeds state standards, and that the school is properly evaluated
for effectiveness. Make sure that philosophies on discipline, instruction,
learning, teacher evaluations, and handling of medications all meet with your
approval. Prepare to be involved and alert to what your child is learning to
ensure that the lessons meet with your approval. Here are some options:
 | Magnet schools or programs --
emphasize a particular profession or career |
| Charter schools -- run by
parents, teachers, or the community. Often offer a specialized curriculum. |
| Private schools -- can be
preparatory, alternative, or religious in nature |
| Homeschooling -- many
communities offer homeschooling groups so that your children aren't learning
in isolation from their peers. |
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