By Marjorie Preston
Finding the best educational environment for your child.
Students and their parents need to find the “just-right” fit when selecting a school. Whether it’s a private or public school, think of the choice as finding the right “culture of learning,” a “personalized environment” or the “ideal learning environment” for the student.
“Comparing public schools and private (‘independent’) schools, it’s not an either/or or better/worse,” says Christie Stover, head of school at Hudson Montessori, “It’s about the best fit for the particular learner.” Sometimes the right school fit means switching children from public to private school or vice versa.
Making the decision to go to public or private school isn’t easy. Each school is different and has a variety of opportunities, which might be suited for one child, but not another.
There are many factors parents have to weigh when choosing which option is best for their children, especially when the students have already had a private or public school experience.
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) suggests if parents are making a change to “first, talk with your principal and superintendent and ask for a solution that keeps your child in the school or the district.”
However, if all parties agree that another school situation might be better or if parents need to make a school change for various reasons, there are plenty of choices in the region.
Going To Private School
Sue Sadler, associate head of school and director of the upper school at Hathaway Brown in Shaker Heights, says that parents switch children to private school for, among other things, creativity in curriculum and autonomy in the environment.
“People know our students in a way that they can’t get away with not doing their best. We make sure students leave prepared to succeed in college with time management and juggling projects.”
Nationally, the biggest reason people switch their kids from public to private school has to do with safety concerns, according to Larry Goodman, Ph.D., head of school at Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby.
“However in this area, the biggest reason is academic opportunity and a desire for a better overall product,” he says. “This market is incredibly competitive. In the Chicago area, you have 12 million students choosing between four schools with a national reputation, and in the Cleveland area, you have 2 million students comparing eight or nine schools, each with a national reputation.”
Cost is often a factor in the private school decision, and most schools have financing opportunities, along with scholarships. The ODE provides options as well.
According to ODE, “School Choice Ohio provides vouchers to private schools for students attending low-performing public schools. There are also scholarships available for families who are considered low income, and students with learning disabilities to schools or programs to meet the student’s needs.”
Deciding on Public Education
Public education is often the most convenient option for parents as their children can attend school right in their community.
Marlene Pierce, mom of two boys in Mentor, says with public schools her kids are in school with other children from the neighborhood.
“In private schools, the kids could be from anywhere,” she says.
She also likes the school environment and she feels her kids will be prepared for the real world.
While many people enjoy their school district, like Pierce, others might want to have their children attend public school in a different district by using open enrollment.
“Open Enrollment allows a student to attend school tuition free in a district other than the district where his or her parents reside,” according to the ODE.
In Ohio, out of the 663 districts, 124 do not have open enrollment, 71 have open enrollment to adjacent districts and 468 are open to any district, according to the ODE’s “Open Enrollment Report for the 2014/2015 School Year.”
If your child is interested in open enrollment, the state suggests checking with the district in which the student is interested. However, they might not be able to begin until the next school year.
According to the ODE, “the open enrollment application periods generally begin each spring for the next fall’s enrollment. Each district selects (its) own specific application process, schedule and students in accordance with state law.”
Parents whose children were attending private schools might make a change back to public. Some of the reasons might be the following:
– The child might have aged out of their previous school and the parents have decided not to continue private school in the next educational level.
– Parents move, a job change or change in financial status by 20 percent or more.
– The student may not feel he or she matches the culture of the school or isn’t thriving in that environment.
Montessori Options
Montessori schools, which are abundant in the Northeast Ohio region, offer another schooling opportunity.
The Montessori concept was founded on the basis that children will flourish and embrace their potential in the right setting and the educational structure provides a place for kids to grow.
In fact, the Montessori system allows each child to work at an independent level.
The educational and learning method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori more than 100 years ago.
“She was a psychologist and sociologist and did research on child development at a time when child development wasn’t really studied,” says Melissa Kiringoda at Akron Montessori School.
“It taps into the child’s natural potential. We do it with a curriculum that is individualized. Each child works at their own level, we don’t place them in groups or blocks, they’re doing exactly what they’re ready to learn,” Kiringoda continues.
“Children learn by actively engaging their hands and their senses,” says Kathy Beech, director of admissions, Hershey Montessori School in Concord Township. “Students in a Montessori community progress at an individualized pace, but as a collaborative community of learners. Providing a hands-on learning environment in a multi-age setting that values choice, concentration, curiosity and skills to apply a student’s knowledge in the real world, allows the child to view ‘work’ as something interesting and joyful. This is why Dr. Montessori’s philosophy, often referred to as ‘Education for Life,’ has been embraced worldwide.”
Children in Montessori programs generally demonstrate self-discipline and independence, as well as being motivated learners on their own.
Becca Ucker, Montessori pre-primary director from The Lillian and Betty Ratner School in Pepper Pike, says, “Traditionally, it includes multi-age groupings in a methodically prepared environment that sets each individual child up for eagerness to learn and the opportunity to be successful. The environment contains beautiful, natural materials that draw the child in and allow the child to learn while utilizing all of their senses.”
“The benefit of a Montessori education is that it develops students for the future in which they will enter,” Hudson Montessori’s Stover says. “They’re learning how to learn and developing a passion that will support their lifelong success. They also develop significant emotional intelligence and they learn how to work as a member of a community. Students also begin to look at information from a global perspective, which allows them to observe patterns and trends and become problem solvers.”
For more information, it’s important to look at the schools in your area to see if they will best suit your family’s needs.
Making a Decision
There are other options to consider such as online school, homeschooling, charter and magnet schools.
While there are more opportunities for learning, parents don’t have to worry about finding resources to help decide.
The best way to find out about a school is by meeting the prospective school’s administrators and teachers, talk to students and parents, and go on a tour of the school facility.
For public schools, parents can look to the ODE for schools offering open enrollment. Each school district also has a report card every year in which the state evaluates data and rates the district based on school-provided information.
The following are websites to visit for information about some of these different school choice topics:
Ohio Dept. of Education: education.ohio.gov/Topics/School-Choice/Open-Enrollment
Public and private schools reviews: greatschools.org or privateschoolreview.com
School Choice Ohio: scohio.org
National Association of Independent Schools: nais.org
Cleveland Council of Independent Schools: ccis-ohio.org
Ohio Association of Independent Schools: oais.org
How To Help Kids Change Schools
Once you and your child have decided on a school, it’s good to make a friend before the first day.
“Just knowing one or two people at the new school can make a difference,” says Goodman, “I’d advise students to connect with a family at the new school in advance of the first day.”
Sadler agrees, “Take advantage of all the programming for new families and get involved in volunteering and being an ally with your child’s teachers.”
Stover adds, “Make sure there is enthusiasm among all the members of the family and check for transition programs — and look forward to this marvelous adventure with joy.”
