Parents who wish for their children to avoid public school have various options open to them in many locations. The two primary public school alternatives are private school and homeschooling. The availability of these options may vary depending on location, and various guidelines may need to be met for parents to be able to home school their children. Both are suitable and oftentimes preferable options to public school.
Private school is one of the most common public school alternatives. This refers to a school which is not government funded or operated. The schools still must meet regulations for education criteria and curriculum standards, but they are often able to offer certain classes which are not available in public schools. Many private schools are religious in nature, for instance, and include classes tailored toward the central religious theme. Others may have a primary focus on a certain area of education, such as science or art.
Most private schools require tuition in order for a student to attend. The prices vary widely based on the school and location. In some cases, scholarships are available for parents who meet certain income requirements. Scholarships may be based on academic achievement as well. Not all schools offer this option and financial aid is often limited.
One of the other public school alternatives is home schooling. In this scenario, a parent or another adult handles the education of a child. Set curriculum requirements are still in place and students are still required to pass government mandated tests in most locations. The benefits are that children or teens are able to learn more at their own pace, they receive more one-on-one attention, and they don’t experience the distractions of learning around other students.
Those who choose to home school should ensure that children are given the chance the socialize with other kids their own age. This can be done in a variety of ways including clubs or groups, church activities, or play groups with other children in the same age range. The most important thing is that kids are given a chance to learn how to interact and deal with various social situations.
There are many factors parents should consider when deciding on public school alternatives. Cost, time restraints, and the reasons why public school are not desirable should be taken into account. Before homeschooling, it is also important to look into any government restrictions and requirements since certain guidelines must be met in most cases before homeschooling is allowed.
