Before you begin the process of choosing a school, keep in mind that as your child’s mother or father, you are uniquely suited to make educational decisions for them. You understand your child better than anybody else! These seven steps, adapted from National School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella’s book, The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child*, can help you get started. You will also find many more resources on education from CharlottesvilleFamily that includes an overview of Charlottesville Schools, Albemarle County Schools and private schools in Central Virginia.
Step 1: Reflect on your own school experience.
That’s right: consider your own time in school. How you interpret education and what you enjoyed best—or least—about school will help guide your school search. Take some time to reflect on what you learned, what you appreciated, and who taught you the most. Also, put down what you didn’t like. Then, put those experiences into context, keeping in mind that your child’s experiences may differ. This preparation will help you to choose the right school.
Step 2: Determine your goals for your child.
You understand more about your child than anyone else on the earth. That is why you are uniquely competent to make decisions about your child’s education. So, take a few minutes to think about your child. What are your hopes and dreams for your child? Who do you want your child to become? What matters most to you about your child’s future? What are your child’s strengths and weaknesses? This will help you choose the right school.
Step 3: Think about what you need and want from a school.
Consider the best learning environment for your child. How does that learning environment look like? Are there any special resources you know your child will require, such as distinct instructional styles or curricula? Perhaps your child is motivated by a specific theme or subject, or they flourish in a smaller school setting. Take notes on all of this. You may even want to consider homeschooling.
Step 4: Create a list and study schools.
To select the best school or learning environment for your child, you must first understand the different possibilities. Investigate school choice policies in your state. To get started, get the free school choice handbook for your state. Next, use the Schools Near Me feature to compile a list of schools in your area. Do not eliminate any colleges because you believe they will be difficult to get into or too pricey. Then, research these schools online to get a sense of what they offer. Don’t forget about homeschooling and online schools. Begin narrowing your list, based on the facts you find online.
Step 5: Visit each school you are considering.
School tours are essential, and you should visit the schools on your shortlist (online or in person), ask as many questions as possible, and take copious notes. If feasible, visit classes and have a look around to get a sense of the school, the teachers, the school’s values, approach, and culture. During your tour, ask yourself, “Is this a learning environment where I can see my child learning, succeeding, being respected, safe, and happy?” If you’re contemplating online schools, set up a phone interview to ask questions. If you are thinking about homeschooling, now is the time to research all of your state’s homeschooling guidelines, policies, and legislation.
Step 6: Evaluate so you can choose the right school.
After your tours, go over all of the notes you took before beginning your visits, as well as the notes you took throughout those visits. Which schools or learning settings best suit your child’s needs? Then, restrict your list to two or three finalists, representing the three schools or learning settings that are most important to you.
Step 7: Select the school that best suits your child’s needs.
Sit together as a family and determine which school or learning environment is ideal for your child. Finding the right school is an extremely personal decision, and each family will approach it in a unique way. But once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to apply, submit applications, complete out paperwork, and prepare your child for the first day of school!
About the author, Andrew Campanella
Andrew Campanella has dedicated his career to helping families discover their K-12 school choice options. He serves as president of National School Choice Week, the nation’s largest public awareness effort for K-12 education. Previously, he worked in senior level positions at the American Federation for Children, the Alliance for School Choice, and the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence. He graduated from American University in Washington, D.C..
About The School Choice Roadmap
- WINNER OF THE 2020 FOREWORD INDIES GOLD AWARD IN EDUCATION
- WINNER OF THE SILVER IPPY AWARD FOR BEST EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
You want your children to benefit from a great education. But every student is unique. One type of school might be a great fit for your neighbor’s child, but it might not work for your son or daughter.
Across the country, many parents today have more choices for their children’s education than ever before. If you are starting the process of finding your child’s first school—or if you want to choose a new school or learning environment—The School Choice Roadmap is for you. This first-of-its-kind book offers a practical, jargon-free overview of school choice policies, from public school open enrollment to private school scholarships and more. It breaks down the similarities and differences between traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online public schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Most importantly, The School Choice Roadmap offers a seven-step process that will help you harness the power of your own intuition—and your own expertise about your child’s uniqueness—to help you find a school that reflects your family’s goals, values, and priorities.
Filled with sage advice from dozens of other parents who have pursued the school search process, and interviews with school leaders and teachers, The School Choice Roadmap is an optimistic, empowering book that cuts through the confusion in K-12 education—so that you can give your children every opportunity to succeed in school and in life.
The book may be purchased at Charlottesville’s New Dominion Bookshop or the Bluebird Bookshop in Crozet.
What is National School Choice Week?
National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. We focus equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, our participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities–such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases–to raise awareness of school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, our team develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. National School Choice Week is a charitable program of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are nonpolitical and nonpartisan, and we do not advocate for legislation.
What types of school choice does National School Choice Week celebrate?
We celebrate all types of K-12 options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. NSCW does not favor one type of education option over another. We trust parents to make the best choices for their individual children.
