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• Education 101: Choosing a school

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Charter schools are public schools that are operated semi-independently as innovative education programs.

Charter schools are designed to be unique and innovative. With nearly 4,700 charter schools across the United States, many parents are asking themselves “Which one of these charter schools may be a good fit for my child?”

Before we continue let's answer this question with a question: What are you looking for in a school?

If you feel a bit stomped by the question, don’t fret. This series is designed as a discovery tool to solve that riddle. But before we embark on the journey of school selection it is important to understand the importance of this question. Nearly all parents would answer it with some version of “I’m seeking a school which will provide my child with a good education.” No kidding? The irony in this is that unlike commodity services and merchandise, education is not affected by supply and demand—all kids require a “good education.” What varies is which type of learning environment is the best provider of quality academics to a specific student. And that’s what we will explore over the course of this series.

Here is some good news; many charter schools are excellent providers of quality education.

Now the caveat: Even if you follow the tips in this series (or any other self-help publication) there is no guarantee that you will for certain find a perfect fitting school for your little student. This series is simply designed to equip you with information for your quest to education happily-ever-after.

Here is what we are about to explore:

·         Is a charter school right for your family?

·         What type of learner is your child?

·         Charter school variety and availability

·         Charter school quality

·         What questions should I ask a prospective charter school?

·         Charter school enrollment

Sharpen your pencils and stay tuned. Education 101: How to choose a charter school has only begun.

 

For more info: Receive updates for FREE via email from the Charter Schools Examiner by subscribing above. Karin Piper is the author of CHARTER SCHOOLS: The Ultimate Handbook for Parents (coming to bookstores fall 2009) and guest writer for Colorado Parenting Magazine Education Guide (October 2009). Parenting and education organizations interested in the topic may contact her directly at Karin@charterschoolmom.com.