Areas of School Choice

[Photo from: www.onlineschoolsinfo.com]

Two areas of school choice that are a deep concern to public education include on-line schools and school vouchers. While school vouchers are not available in most states, on-line schools are becoming more popular.   

On-Line Schools

            A new issue that has emerged in the area of school choice is on-line education programs.  Many new on-line schools have been opened and receive state funding. For many families, public school is not working for their child but they cannot afford a private school. The on-line option seems to be their only choice to educate their child. Many times, there is no cost to the parent and the state still receives educational funding for the student. The problem with this is on-line school is not for every student. Often parents will withdrawal their student because they feel they have no other option; however, many students do not thrive in an isolated environment. Many times, after just a few weeks or months of on-line schooling, students return to the public school because it did not work for the students. The switching of students in the middle of the school year can have a negative impact on the student and financially on the school district. In the Education News Colorado article Troubling Questions about Online Education by Burt Hubbard and Nancy Mitchell this very issue is addressed. Students who were enticed by marketing pitches signed up for on-line schools; in many cases it did not work out for the student and when they returned to their school, they did not receive credit for the incomplete course work.  The schools had lost the funding for the students who returned.  While in small numbers this does not seem like a big issue, but for one school the return of 10 students from on-line schools cost the district over 60,000 dollars. 

            In the Troubling Questions about Online Education article, there is a video provided which I felt was disappointing. I realize the school and district have been hurt by the situation, but the principal and the superintendent looked liked victims. As leaders we have to face changes and challenges– we can act like victims or we can face the change and make an impact for our school and district.  Vice complaining about loss of funds (which I do feel is a viable concern), what was the district and school doing to offset the problem?  Ways that I feel the school leaders could face this challenge is: 1. Don’t pretend that on-line schools do not exist. Acknowledge their existence and parents’ right to choose. 2. Notify parents of the impact to the students and school for switching a student mid-year.  3. Notify parents about what type of students do best in the on-line environment. (We are education professionals and want what is best for the student; give them the facts – so parents can make more informed decisions). 4. Generate “marketing tools” for the school. Let parents know what your school has to offer that the on-line school cannot offer the student. 

School Vouchers

[Photo from: www.gothamgazette.com]

          The controversy over school vouchers is very large one. School choice has become a major battleground between those that want to maintain control and power of funding and those who want to disperse control and promote pluralism. Many public schools have declared war against vouchers and feel that it will be the downfall of public education. Vouchers are used by parents to help pay the tuition of non-public schools. The vouchers are use to subsidize the parents so that they will have the ability of choice for different schools. Vouchers create more choice and competition than charter schools and are generally given to families of low-income so that their children can attend a school of their choice. However, vouchers often have stipulations that go along with them as to what types of schools are authorized to receive the voucher. Additionally, teacher unions are also threatened by the voucher and how it will affect their control on education. 

            This is an area of which I feel very passionate, mainly because of the politics that are involved.  According to many politicians, which are against school vouchers, they want more invested in public schools.  Yet, I doubt there are many politicians that have their children enrolled in public schools. In Washington, D.C. the average cost for private schools is $10,000 dollars a school year which exceeds the amount many families can afford. Our family lived in Washington, D.C. between 2001 and 2005, and we were able to experience life in that area. I understand why politicians do not place their children in public school; most of their reasoning deals with security concerns. For the sake of our oldest child’s welfare and safety we made many sacrifices in order to pay for private school tuition. The problem I have is that the upper and middle classes have choices and can pay for schools that are safe and provide the needs of their children. It is the poor and lower middle class that do not, which clearly does not promote equality in education.  

References

Bennett, W. J., Finn, C. E., & Cribb, J. T. E. (1999). The educated child: A parent’s guide. New York: Free Press.

Hess, F. M. (2004). Common sense school reform. New York: Palgrave-MacMillan.

Hubbard, B. & Mitchell, N. (2011, October 4). Troubling questions about online education. Education News     

     Colorado. Retrieved January 10, 2012, from http:/www.ednewscolorado.org

Price, H. B. (2002). Achievement matters: Getting your child the best education possible. New York: Kensington.