Understanding Your Choices

Friday, March 1, 2019

(NAPSA)—For many families, few things are more importantthan school- ing—andan increasing number are takingit into their own hands. ‘They're welcomingthe idea of more waysfor children to be educated than simply by going to the district school. In schools,online, at home, with a tutor or through a combination,families use school choice options to meet each child’sparticular educational needs. Families that can afford it may move to a desired schooldistrict. But there are many more waysto choosethebest edu- cationalsetting for your kids. Here's a look at a few of the more popular: 1. Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) let parents withdraw their chil- dren from public schools andget public fundspaid into government-authorized savings accounts—oftenvia secure debit card—to cover private schooltuition, online learning,private tutoring, higher education expenses, and other approved services and materials. 2.School Vouchers let parents choosea private schoolusingall or part of the public money set aside for their children's education. Funds typically expendedby a schooldistrict are allo- catedto the family instead in the form of a voucherfortuition at private schools, including religious and nonreligious Schoolchoicelets parents pick the kind of education, such as charter schools, they wanttheirkids to have. Increased Innovation. Charter schools have the independenceto try new forms of teaching and experi- mentwith the best wayto reach their students. + Increased Efficiency. Charterschools avoid myriad challenging government regulations. Greater Accountability. Charter schools mustattract students to succeed, or their charter can be taken away. Increased Competition. Like other choice schools, charter schools must compete for familiesas customers. This is an ultimateform of accountability. Private Resources. Many charter schools have attracted considerable philanthropic gifts to support more robust programs. 5. Other types of school choice options. include homeschooling, online learning, andtax-credit scholarships thatlet grams. They're designed to attract students with a commoninterest or skill set, and students must apply and be accepted. 4.Charter schools are inde- getfull or partial tax credits when they donate to nonprofits that provide private school scholarships. In addition, individual tax credits and deductions Jet parentsget state incometax relief for exchange for increased accountability. Typically, if charters get more applications than they have open seats, they acceptstudents based ona lottery. Families don't need to use ESAs, vouchers or tax-credit scholarships for charter tutors and transportation. standards for every student and give them the support they need to meet those standards, research,its premise is: The more peo- 3. Magnetschoolsare public schools offering specialized curricula and pro- taxpayers—individuals or businesses— pendently run public schools exempt approved educational expenses, such from many rules and regulations in as tuition, books, supplies, computers, Learn More You can get further information about school choice and what it can meanfor your kids from the experts at EdChoice, an organization that advocates for the best education possible for students andforparents to have control overtheirchildren’s educationas a pathway to successful lives and a stronger schools because they're publicly funded. Charter schools put families in charge of choosing their child’s education,principals in charge of running their schools, andteachers in charge ofleadingtheir society. A national classrooms.They also tendto have high According to a Columbia University study, charter schools provide: leader in school choice ple know about and understand edu- cationalchoice, the more they canhelp advance the movement. You canfindit at www.edchoice.org.

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