Public, Private or Charter: Which is the best way to go?

First, let me start by stating that I have worked in public schools for 21 years and am a product of a public school education.  With that said there has been a great movement towards more parental choice in education.  Part of this choice includes parents opting for private or charter schools instead of their local public school.  While there are differences in all three types of school, what makes a good school remains the same.  It is the people.  If you have a high performing staff of professionals who provide a supportive learning environment they can teach in a shoebox.

What is a charter school?  A charter school is a school that receives state funds, however they adhere to the guidelines in their charter.  They are not under the same requirements and policies that public schools are.   This can be a real benefit to support innovative programs without red tape getting in the way of progress.  Many charter schools require parents to become involved as a volunteer.  I am aware of many charter schools in Florida that require parents to log 30 volunteer hours in a school year.  If they are short hours the parents can pay the school for the remainder of hours.  Please note charter schools are expected to be free, but I suppose this is an acceptable practice.  However, there is a benefit to encouraging parent volunteers.  Students whose parents are involved in their education tend to achieve more.  Just as with public schools there are many successful charter schools with a variety of unique programs and there are many unsuccessful ones whose students end up returning to the public school.

In order for students to attend private schools, parents must pay tuition which can sometimes be costly.  While some states have voucher programs it is rarely enough to cover the full cost. Private schools can choose what students they accept, so they can be very selective in regards to the make up of their student body.  Many cite increased teacher attention, more individualized instruction, smaller class size and increased parent communication as benefits to a private school.  It is important that parents research the accreditation of the priviate school, the staff credentials, the rigor of the curriculum and the alignment of the curriculum with the skills students will need upon graduation. While there are many fine private schools there are some who collect the tuition money and tell parents what they want to hear. I recall teaching 4th grade and getting a new student to my class in the middle of the year.  The child was receiving straight A's in language arts, but could not write a paragraph.  The expectation for a 4th grader at that time was to be able to write multiple organized paragraphs. While that could be an isolated incident it illustrates the point that a parent needs to research private schools closely to insure their child will receive a quality education.

Today's public schools have to abide by strict accountability guidelines, school board policies, and provide many services above and beyond education in the classroom.  Public schools must accept any student that is within their boundaries and meet the needs of all children from special needs students to speakers of other languages.  However in many ways public schools have greater resources to meet these needs.  Public schools serve as the hub of many communities. One of the ideals of this nation is a free public education for all. While many reforms are needed to get districts away from teaching to tests and back to teaching for a deeper understanding of content, their are many positive innovations occurring in our public schools.

When considering any school I recommend the following:

1. Research whether the teachers are certified educators.
2. Tour the school to get a sense of their learning environment.
3. Find out  how the curriculum aligns with state standards.
4. Research how the school handles ESE students.
5. Talk to other parents whose children go to the school to get some feedback

Remember charter and private are not automatic synonyms for better, it is best to judge a school on its individual merit no matter what category it falls in.