Of all the countless decisions you’ll make as a parent, perhaps none are so important as how you choose to educate your child. Yet, for all the weight and consequence placed on this choice, it sometimes feels like straightforward information on the topic is frustratingly hard to come by.
Where are the facts and figures? Where are the convenient tables, line graphs, and pie charts showing us concrete numbers we can follow with absolute confidence?
While it would be amazing if we could each simply plug a few stats into a program and map out the best possible course for our children, the truth is parents are faced with a dizzying array of options, among them, traditional schooling, charter schools, and other alternatives to public education.
And perhaps it’s that word “alternatives” that acts as one of the biggest stumbling blocks. There is the overarching concept of alternative education, and then there is the very specific meaning of the term “alternative school.” Many times, charter schools and alternative schools are used as interchangeable terms, when in fact they are quite different.
Understanding exactly what is meant by charter schools vs. alternative schools will be a crucial part in helping you make the right decision for your child.
Let’s begin by unpacking each of these terms individually.
Charter schools are still a relatively new concept in American education. The first charter school in the country opened in 1992, whereas the first public schools in America date all the way back to the 17th century. As you can imagine, an idea that stretches back more than 300 years is easier for most people to get their minds around than an idea which has not yet turned 30.
Here are the most important facts about charter schools that parents need to know:
Charter schools were developed in response to a demand among parents for more choice when it comes to their children’s education. Rather than weighing the differences between the local public school, and perhaps a cost-prohibitive private or parochial school, parents now have a wider variety of options.
The term alternative school refers to a very specific educational scenario. Students who attend alternative school might have begun their schooling in a regular public school, but switched to an alternative school when certain challenges began to arise.
To be clear, the challenges facing a child recommended for alternative school extend beyond the reach of the typical IEP or 504 plan. Children in a regular public school who are exhibiting severe behavioral problems or are grappling with emotional issues which make traditional learning nearly impossible, are not being served well where they are.
Alternative school may look different depending on how each district chooses to handle it. A few examples of an alternative school scenario might include:
Alternative school is designed to be helpful for children who are considered high risk. Sometimes, alternative school is presented to parents as a last resort, or last chance for the student to turn their behavior around before being considered for juvenile corrections.
While alternative schooling can be extremely beneficial for some children, it is obviously not appropriate for everyone, and it is important that parents understand what is meant by the term.
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While both charter schools and alternative schools present parents with a choice, there are usually some very clear-cut reasons that parents choose one over the other.
As mentioned above, alternative schools are reserved for at-risk students who need highly specialized educators to see them through their unique challenges. In many cases, alternative school is not chosen by the parent at all but recommended or even mandated by the school district.
If a child’s behavior or emotional issues have made the typical public school setting unsafe for themselves or other students, alternative school may be the best answer for them.
Charter schools on the other hand, can be especially popular in areas where the public school system has a poor reputation. Very few families have the luxury of uprooting their lives and moving to an area where the public school system is more highly regarded. Up until the early 90's, that was really the only option available to students who – through no fault of their own – were living in an area with severely under-performing schools.
Looking at it another way, charter schools may choose to hire teachers who rely on new and innovative teaching styles which they feel will serve students better than the current public school curriculum. Parents may look at differences in performance, safety, student success, and parent-teacher communication, and decide that a nearby charter school makes much more sense for their child.
This is another area where precise wording becomes very important. For the most part, no. Charter schools are public schools, and just like the public school system, they will have concerns about a student’s safety and emotional well-being. If a child can truly be served better by alternative school, that will be true regardless of whether that child was originally attending a traditional public school, private school, or a charter school.
However, something charter schools can do is act as an alternative to public school. If you have a child currently enrolled in your local public school and you feel that they are not being challenged appropriately, not receiving the attention they deserve, or are experiencing other problems such as repeated bullying or academic struggle, you do have a choice in where you want to send your child to school. A charter school may be exactly what you’re looking for.
There’s another option we’ve only touched on briefly, but it’s very important that parents are aware of this option as well.
Cyber charter schools are also part of the public education system, but they allow students to do all their lessons, projects, homework, presentations, and every other aspect of a typical school experience from home.
A few reasons parents might choose cyber charter schools for their child:
For some families, cyber charter schools make complete sense. For other families, they are still unsure and may want more information before deciding either way.
Which brings us to our next point…
The best way to decide for sure which type of school is right for your child is to gather as much information as you can. Check out school rankings online, tour local schools whenever possible, talk to family, friends, and neighbors about their experiences – good and bad – with their children’s schooling.
If you don’t feel confident about the public school choices available to you, remember that you have options. Alternatives to public school in your local area come in many forms including private school, parochial school, local charter schools, homeschooling, and online cyber charter schools. Each of these will have pros and cons, and the only person who can truly know what is best for your family is you.
If cyber charter school does sound like something that would benefit your child, we invite you to attend an online open house with PA Virtual Charter School. We are a PA cyber school serving students and families all across Pennsylvania.
This online open house will be much like an open house you would attend at any other school. You will learn about our curriculum and teaching methods, you will get a peek inside our virtual classroom and see how it works, you’ll get a hands-on demonstration of the technology we use, and of course you will get to meet other parents and staff here at PA Virtual Charter School.
This is a great way to add that all-important information to your toolbox so you can make this decision. To RSVP to our open house, click here.