Should your Child be in a Charter School?

There seems to be some confusion today about what a charter schools is. Some people think it is a public school and some think it is a private school. The answer is, a little of both.

Why Charter Schools?

Until 1992, there were public schools, where most of the students were enrolled, and private schools where those that could afford to would send their children. Some educators and parents thought they could do a better job of educating children and have it cost less. In 1991 Minnesota granted the first school charter. This allowed the interested parties to be able to establish a private type school but still receive state funding.

At first, the belief was that these schools, also called alternative schools, would attract only the brightest students. Time has shown us that this has not been true. In fact, charter schools have taken on some of the biggest challenges of the public schools and specialize in children with learning difficulties.

Has the Experiment been Successful?

By the 2014-2015 school year, there were 6,700 charter schools in the U.S. educating nearly 3 million students. As with anything else, there have been failures. Some could not make financially, and others could not keep up academically. This will happen with any endeavor, but on the whole, the charter schools have been very successful.

Florida, along with 42 other states and the District of Columbia, now has charter schools. As with any public school, they are regulated by the State of Florida. If you have an interest in the requirements for charter schools, check out Florida Department of Education Charter School Statutes and Rules. From that page there are links to most anything you would want to know about charter schools.

What is a Class Schedule like in a Charter School?

That is a difficult question because there are so many types of charter schools. Some of the individual types of schools are:
•    Conversion charter schools - These are traditional public schools that are converting to charter schools.
•    Schools-in-the-workplace - These schools are comprised mainly of the children of the workers of a certain company or business.
•    Schools-in-a-municipality - These students are selected by a lottery of the residents of a municipality.
•    High-performing charter school - must meet certain criteria determined by the FL Dept of Edu.
•    Virtual charter schools - provides all of their instruction online.

So, looking at the above, you can see that the schedule of a conversion charter school would differ from a virtual school.

Even within a school, schedules will vary. Middle school charter Sunrise is a High-Tech and College Prep school. This school is for college-bound 6th-12th graders. They have traditional classrooms, and they also have virtual classrooms. They offer dual enrollment which means that a student can be enrolled in high school and college at the same time.

Benefits of Charter Schools

A few of the benefits of charter schools are:
•    Flexability of schedule
•    An advanced student can work ahead or even take college classes.
•    There is no fee for the college classes.
•    For a child who takes a little longer to grasp certain concepts, he can work at his own speed.
•    Some schools specialize in things such as science, music or many other interests.

If you think a charter school might be the best option for your child, you can Google list of Florida Charter Schools. You are sure to find one in your area.

Three Ways To Prepare Your Child For Personal And Professional Success

If you're like most Coral Springs parents, ensuring that your child becomes both personally and professionally successful is important to you. Luckily, there are several strategies you can implement to accomplish this objective. Here are three:

1. Promote Educational Excellence.

One of the most effective strategies you can implement to promote your child's personal and professional success is to promote educational excellence. As numerous educational experts know, attaining a solid education is still the leading factor that promotes socioeconomic stability and advancement. With that reality in mind, you should place primacy on ensuring that your child is in a state of constant intellectual growth. One great way to put this process in motion is to enroll your child in a charter school. These FL schools will oftentimes better prepare students for college while also providing them with the supplemental tools necessary to excel academically. If you're looking for a free charter school Coral Springs residents such as yourself can rely on to offer your child an excellent education, be sure to consider iGeneration Charter School. In addition to utilizing an interactive learning format, this school offers students free laptops and busing options.

2. Emphasize Health.

In addition to focusing on educational excellence, parents who want to prepare their children for personal and professional success should emphasize health. This step is important because children who maintain optimal health tend to think more clearly, maintain mood stability, fight disease more effectively, and earn more money. In recognizing these simple truths, make sure you're talking to your child about the importance of exercise on a regular basis. In addition to emphasizing physical activity, you should take time to teach your child good nutritional principles. There are many ways to realize this objective, such as packing healthy snacks (carrot sticks, apple slices, etc.) for them to take to school and explaining why they're better than the salt and fat-laden items in the vending machine.

3. Be A Model.

One final strategy you should consider when preparing your child for personal and professional success is to be a model. If you want your child to develop good health habits, you need to maintain them for yourself. And if you want your child to know that education is valuable, you yourself should be actively engaged in academic activities like reading. Children oftentimes operate according to a "Monkey See, Monkey Do" mentality, so don't overlook this important step.

Conclusion

If you're interested in ensuring that your child becomes as successful as possible, it's important that you develop the strategies necessary to make it happen. By implementing one or all three of the success techniques outlined here, you'll likely find that your child attains the level of success necessary to facilitate personal fulfillment and professional advancement. Good luck!

Charter School Guide for Parents

Although charter schools are somewhat new, many parents in various states are now interested. However, because all schools have unique policies, families must gather a lot of information before they enroll their children.

What is a Charter School?

A charter school is a secondary or elementary school. The first charter school was built in the United States nearly 20 years old. Today, there are about 5,275 charter schools nationwide.

Charter Schools Differences

A traditional school and a middle school charter Tamarac are not the same. Educators in FL build charter schools to gain autonomy, to fulfill an educational vision, and to serve the population.

Families choose charter schools because the classes give their kids more learning options. All schools have smaller class sizes and efficient learning and teaching programs that meet high academic standards.

Funding Information

The school districts do not provide funding to charter schools for improvement projects. The process of securing financing is challenging because charter schools do not have a solid operating history that benefits lenders.

Accountability Standards

State officials grant charter schools the right to meet certain education policies and regulations. However, every charter school must follow the same federal laws as traditional schools. According to the laws, all important information must be included when various files are reported to the government each year.

Charter School Services for Students

Because charter schools function like traditional schools, they must offer educational classes to students who have disabilities.

If a charter school is an LEA according to state law, the school must provide same education services as other LEA schools or districts. However, if a school is part of an established LEA, the staff will have certain special education responsibilities.

Transportation to Charter Schools

In some cities, a bus driver will provide transportation to and from a campus. However, in a few states, parents must transport their children to and from the charter schools.

Students with IEPs

IDEA reports that children with IEPs can attend charter schools. However, if a school receives applications from too many students, the staff may select students randomly.

To learn more about educational opportunities in Florida, visit iGeneration Charter School