What is important to know, to choose the private education that fits the best? If you ask all the important questions, you are less likely to be hit with unpleasant surprises down the road! Along with my husband, I have chosen a private school for my child in Boulder County, Colorado. I've also interviewed other parents, as well as school administrators, to find out what parents ask private schools.
10 Questions for Choosing Amongst the Private Schools
1. How does this school create a safe learning environment? You know that there are many safety issues these days, in the public schools especially, from violence to drugs. So when you're interviewing a private school, you'll probably want to find out how the school keeps kids safe.
2. What philosophical or theological beliefs are espoused by the school, and how does this effect the children's classroom experience? A school may be based on a belief system about how children learn best, and/or it may be based on a theology. It's a good idea to make sure you agree that a school's philosophy will have a beneficial--or at least neutral--effect on the children.
3. What degrees and/or certifications do the teachers hold? Private schools in many states can hire teachers with different credentials than the public schools. Some private school teachers' qualifications exceed the requirements of public school teachers, and some have different training and experience altogether.
4. How many students are there per teacher? Many children in private schools benefit from a smaller class size, but there can be a huge difference from one school to the next.
5. What's the schedule? You probably want to know when to drop off and pick up your child, as well as how the typical school day would unfold for your child. As an example, would a small child have an opportunity for a mid-morning snack? Are academic subjects taught more in the morning when the child is fresher, or do they come after lunch? What about recess? Is there care available after class?
6. Do parents have a chance to be involved with the school? Participating in school functions can give you a better sense of what your child experiences at school, and it helps your child have a bridge between his family life and his school life. In addition, it can be rewarding and fun to help create the school experience.
7. How do your teachers help children learn who have varied learning styles? Every child is a unique individual. How does the school approach different learning styles so that everyone can learn?
8. What does the school do to prepare a child for a broad world out there, with diverse people and viewpoints? Many schools have non-discrimination policies, and some school philosophies expressly embrace diversity.
9. How established is this school? More established schools may have a more fully-developed curriculum and facilities, while newer schools sometimes have smaller class sizes and lower tuition.
10. What about the money? What is the tuition, and is financial aid available? How do you pay? If you're like most parents, it will be important to know how much this great education will cost.
These 10 questions will give you important basic information about the schools in Boulder or in your town. However, to really decide if a private school will be the very best possible for your child, it's useful to keep asking questions. I have created a list of 12 additional questions that I think are important to get to the heart of the matter, yet most parents don't ask them--or at least, they don't ask them all. You might create your own list. By gathering enough of the right kind of information, you will have the best chance possible to make the right choice for your child. - 30224
10 Questions for Choosing Amongst the Private Schools
1. How does this school create a safe learning environment? You know that there are many safety issues these days, in the public schools especially, from violence to drugs. So when you're interviewing a private school, you'll probably want to find out how the school keeps kids safe.
2. What philosophical or theological beliefs are espoused by the school, and how does this effect the children's classroom experience? A school may be based on a belief system about how children learn best, and/or it may be based on a theology. It's a good idea to make sure you agree that a school's philosophy will have a beneficial--or at least neutral--effect on the children.
3. What degrees and/or certifications do the teachers hold? Private schools in many states can hire teachers with different credentials than the public schools. Some private school teachers' qualifications exceed the requirements of public school teachers, and some have different training and experience altogether.
4. How many students are there per teacher? Many children in private schools benefit from a smaller class size, but there can be a huge difference from one school to the next.
5. What's the schedule? You probably want to know when to drop off and pick up your child, as well as how the typical school day would unfold for your child. As an example, would a small child have an opportunity for a mid-morning snack? Are academic subjects taught more in the morning when the child is fresher, or do they come after lunch? What about recess? Is there care available after class?
6. Do parents have a chance to be involved with the school? Participating in school functions can give you a better sense of what your child experiences at school, and it helps your child have a bridge between his family life and his school life. In addition, it can be rewarding and fun to help create the school experience.
7. How do your teachers help children learn who have varied learning styles? Every child is a unique individual. How does the school approach different learning styles so that everyone can learn?
8. What does the school do to prepare a child for a broad world out there, with diverse people and viewpoints? Many schools have non-discrimination policies, and some school philosophies expressly embrace diversity.
9. How established is this school? More established schools may have a more fully-developed curriculum and facilities, while newer schools sometimes have smaller class sizes and lower tuition.
10. What about the money? What is the tuition, and is financial aid available? How do you pay? If you're like most parents, it will be important to know how much this great education will cost.
These 10 questions will give you important basic information about the schools in Boulder or in your town. However, to really decide if a private school will be the very best possible for your child, it's useful to keep asking questions. I have created a list of 12 additional questions that I think are important to get to the heart of the matter, yet most parents don't ask them--or at least, they don't ask them all. You might create your own list. By gathering enough of the right kind of information, you will have the best chance possible to make the right choice for your child. - 30224
About the Author:
What else should you ask the private schools in Boulder or anywhere else? Stop by www.privateschoolsboulder.com for more in-depth questions and read about the private education the author chose.
