“School choice gives

you more opportunities

to achieve your

expectations for

your child.”

U. S. Secretary of Education

Margaret Spellings

United States

Department of

Education

Office of Innovation

and Improvement

Choosing a School

ForYour Child

Office of Innovation and Improvement

United States Department of Education
U.S. Department of Education

Margaret Spellings

Secretary

Office of Innovation and Improvement

Morgan S. Brown

Assistant Deputy Secretary

First published March 2005. Revised August 2007.

This book is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part for educational

purposes is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should

be: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Choosing a School for

Your Child, Washington, D.C., 2007.

Listing of materials and resources in this book should not be construed or interpreted as an

endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any private organization or business listed herein.

To obtain copies of this report in English or Spanish,

write to: ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 1398,

Jessup, MD 20794-1398;

or fax your request to 301-470-1244;

or e-mail your request to: edpubs@inet.ed.gov;

or call in your request toll-free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS). If 877 service is not yet

available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327 (1-800-USA-LEARN). Those who use telecommunications

device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY), should call 1-877-576-7734;

or order online at www.edpubs.org.

This book is also available on the Department’s Web site at:

http://www.ed.gov/parents/schools/find/choose

On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print or computer

diskette. For more information, please contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center

202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818.

ii

Original production of this book was led by Jack Klenk, director, Office of Non-Public

Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, and Cynthia Hearn Dorfman, former

director of Communications, Office of Innovation and Improvement; and funded by

the Office of Parental Options and Information in the Office of Innovation and

Improvement, John Fiegel, director, as part of the Parental Information and

Resource Centers Program.
Contents

✓ List of Parent Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

✓ Letter from the Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

✓ Choosing a School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

✓ Learn What Choices Are Available to You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

✓ Four Steps for Selecting the School That Is Right for Your Child. . . . . . 6

Step 1. Consider your child and your family.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 2. Gather information about schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 3. Visit and observe schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Step 4. Apply to the school(s) you choose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

✓ Congratulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

✓ Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

✓Parent Information Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

✓ Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

✓ Your Contacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

iii
List of Parent Tips

✓ Know Your Options Under the No Child Left Behind Act

for Children in Public Schools That Are “In Need of Improvement”. . 9

✓ Check the School District’s Report Card for Public Schools . . . . . . 14

✓ Know Your Options Under the No Child Left Behind Act

for Children in Public Schools That Are Unsafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

✓ 10 Things to Look for in a School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

✓ Start Early and Cover All the Steps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

✓ Find Helpful Resources at the U.S. Department of Education’s

Choice Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

iv
v

Dear Parents,

Do you remember when your child was born, how your child quickly wrapped all five fingers

around your one? Your child will continue to grasp your hand throughout childhood and youth.

You are your child's first and lifelong teacher. And, as a parent and teacher, you will make

important decisions for your child.

Some of the most important decisions you will make are about your child's education. You

want your child's school to meet the same goals of high academic achievement you have set.

You may want your child's school to reflect the values of your family and community. In other

words, you want to choose a school that is a good fit for your child. In an increasing number

of communities in our nation, you now have the ability to do so.

This booklet, Choosing a School for Your Child, is a type of "decision tool" that can help you

navigate the process of choosing a school. It explains some of the public school choices now

available in many communities and covers private school options that may be available as well.

It outlines steps that you can follow to help you make a thoughtful choice, and it includes questions that you might want to ask when going through the process.

In addition, this booklet highlights new options for your child's education provided in the federal law, the No Child Left Behind Act. The law allows parents whose children are in public

schools that need improvement or are unsafe, to choose other public schools or take advantage of free tutoring or extra educational help.

The law also supports the growth of more independent public charter schools and funds

some services for children in private schools. Finally, it mandates states and local school districts to provide a wealth of new information to help you make informed educational choices

for your child.

School choice can help give every child an excellent education. It is amazing what can happen

when parents get involved. School choice gives you more opportunities to achieve your expectations for your child. Armed with options and information, you can be a powerful advocate for

your child.

I offer you Choosing a School for Your Child as a tool with practical information to help you

make informed decisions about your child's education. I wish you success with this challenge.

Sincerely,

Margaret Spellings

Secretary

U.S. Department of Education
For additional resources on choosing a school, you can

visit the U.S. Department of Education’s page for parents at

http://www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml

or the page on school choice at

http://www.ed.gov/nclb/choice

vi
Choosing a School

Parents have a growing array of options in choosing a school, though the extent

of the options varies from state to state. The enactment of the landmark No Child

Left Behind Act of 2001; the rapid growth of the charter school movement; the

increasing number of states enacting scholarship and tax credit programs for students to attend private schools; the expansion of privately funded scholarship programs for low-income children; and the growing acceptance of homeschooling

have all increased the choices available to families.

Parents can exercise choice in many ways. The most common way may be in

choosing where to live based on the public school district or neighborhood

schools. In many areas, parents can choose from neighborhood schools, charter

schools or other public schools of choice, or transfer their child to another public

school (in or out of district). They can also select a private school (religious or secular) or teach their child at home.

Choosing a School for Your Child offers step-by-step advice on how to choose

among the schools available to your child. It identifies important factors you may

want to consider before making a decision. As you and your child visit different

schools, you may want to consider the questions in each section of this booklet.

Why Should You Choose Your Child’s School?

No one cares more about your child’s welfare than you do. No one else will be more

careful to see that your child is well educated and well treated in school. You know

your child’s personality, strengths and weaknesses. You know the interests that light

up your child’s eyes. You know the values that your family wants a school to respect.

Choosing your child’s school may also make you more confident that she will be

taught effectively and treated fairly. Choosing your child’s school carefully is an important way you can help your child achieve all that he can be. This is a head and a heart

decision. Don’t be afraid to heed your own informed and intuitive wisdom.

1
2

LearnWhat Choices

AreAvailable toYou

Different schools offer alternatives in teaching styles, content, and learning

opportunities. This section briefly describes some types of schools you may find.

Public Schools

Neighborhood Public Schools

Many parents choose to send their children to the public school in their neighborhood, according to an assignment system developed by the school district.

Attending a neighborhood public school can make it easy for your child to get

to school, to work with classmates on group projects, and to visit friends. These

schools are often anchors in a community.

Other Public Schools

You may want to investigate other public schools. In an increasing number of

districts, you can choose to send your child to a specialized public school.

These schools of choice often emphasize a particular subject or have a special

philosophy of education. One school might emphasize science, art, or language

study. Another might offer a firm code of conduct, a dress code, or a rigorous

traditional academic program.

Another may be an alternative school designed to respond to students who are

insufficiently challenged by the regular school program, who are likely to drop

out, or who have behavioral or substance abuse problems. These schools, often

small, work to make students feel they belong. Some states also offer second

chance schools or clinics for students who have dropped out of regular schools

and now want to complete their education.
•

•

•

•

3

Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools of choice that operate with freedom from

many of the local and state regulations that apply to traditional public schools.

Charter schools allow parents, community leaders, educational entrepreneurs,

and others the flexibility to innovate, create and provide students with increased

educational options. Charter schools exercise increased autonomy in return for

stronger accountability. They are sponsored by designated local, state, or other

organizations that monitor their quality and integrity while holding them accountable for academic results and fiscal practices.

Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are designed to attract students from diverse social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds by focusing on a specific subject, such as science, technology, or the arts. Some magnet schools require students to take an

exam or demonstrate knowledge or skill in the specialty to qualify to go to the

school, while others are open to students who express an interest in that area.

Virtual Schools

Instead of taking classes in a school building, students can receive their education using a computer through a virtual school. Virtual schools have an organized curriculum. Depending on the state and district, students can take the full

curriculum or individual classes. Some school districts have used these online

schools to offer classes that will help students learn at their own pace. Virtual

education is sometimes used in remote areas for specialized or advanced

courses that are not available in the immediate area. This type of studying is also

called “distance learning.”

Advanced Placement and

International Baccalaureate Programs

Advanced Placement (AP) courses offer rigorous content, and at the end of a

course students can take the national Advanced Placement exam. If they score

well on the exam, many colleges and universities will grant college credit for

completing the course. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a program of rigorous academic courses. Students who graduate from the program receive an
4

International Baccalaureate diploma that is recognized by colleges and universities throughout the world. Other students may choose not to take the full IB curriculum but pursue certificates in individual areas. Elementary and middle schools

may also offer components of the IB program.

Nonpublic Schools

In addition to public schools, there may be a variety of religious and other nonpublic schools available in your area or boarding schools away from home. These

schools of choice have been part of the fabric of American education since colonial days. These schools have been established to meet the demand to support

parents’ differing beliefs about how their children should be educated.

Religious Private Schools

The majority of nonpublic schools are religious. Many are affiliated with a

denomination, local church, or religious faith such as Roman Catholic,

Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or other.

Secular Private Schools

There are also many nonpublic schools without a religious identity or affiliation. Some

of these private schools are preparatory schools designed to prepare students for

college. These schools often have a traditional or elite reputation and a long history.

Other schools are based on a particular educational philosophy or approach to

learning, such as Montessori or Waldorf schools; have a special education focus,

such as schools for the deaf or blind; or have been established for families and children who may be dissatisfied with various aspects of conventional schools.

Home Schools

Homeschooling is an option for a growing number of parents. Some parents prepare their own materials and design their own programs of study, while others use

materials produced by companies specializing in homeschool materials. Some

take advantage of virtual school programs or other educational resources available

on the Internet. Of course, exercising this option may require major changes in

how your family lives. Teaching your children at home is an ambitious undertaking,

requiring time, planning, creativity, and commitment. Be sure to check with your

state because different states have different requirements for homeschooling.
Selecting a School

forYour Child

How do you pick the best school for your child? Whether you are choosing a

public or private school or homeschooling, whether or not you are paying tuition,

careful planning is a must. The following sections have questions for you to consider, with workspace for you to write down your thoughts, as you go through

the process of choosing a school for your child. Remember, you are looking for

a school that will make the educational experience for your child and you as

rewarding as possible.

Write Down Five Things That Are Most Important to You

You may wish to write down five things that are most important to you as

you consider the choice of a school. As you go through the selection

process, you may want to add to and revise your list.

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5
Four Steps for Selecting the School

That IsRight forYour Child

Start your search for the best school by thinking about

what you want a school to do for your child. Perhaps your

child has special language or education needs. Keep

these in mind. After all, you know your son or daughter

better than anyone else does.

Consider

your child

& your Step1family.

6
Your Child’s Needs

Does your child need a more

structured environment?

Does your child need a less

structured environment?

Does your child need more

challenging work?

Does your child need more individual

attention?

Does your child generally need extra

help or more time to complete an

assignment?

Does your child have any special

learning needs?

Does your child need an environment

that fosters creativity?

Does your child need an English

language acquisition program?

Your Child’s Learning Style

Does your child learn best by seeing

how things work?

Does your child learn best by reading

about how something works?

Does your child learn best

by listening?

Does your child like to participate

in discussions?

Does your child like to learn through

physical activity?

Is your child logical or mathematical?

Is your child musical or artistic?

Does your child like to learn

in groups?

Does your child like to work alone?

7

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8

Location of School

Do you want your child to go to

a school within walking distance of your

home?

Can your child’s talents be nurtured outside your neighborhood?

How far are you willing to have your child

bused?

How far are you willing to drive your child

to school?

Does your child want to be in a school

with his or her friends?

Do you want your child to go to a school

near your after-school care? Near where

you work? Near a close relative?

Does your child have any special transportation needs that must be considered

in choosing a school?
Parent Tip:

Know Your Options Under the

No Child Left Behind Act for Children

in Public Schools That Are “In Need

of Improvement”

Parents of children in public schools

designated as “in need of improvement”

can choose another public school or

supplemental educational services

(free tutoring).

If your child's public school receives federal Title I funds, it must let you

know how well the students in the school are learning. The school district

must contact you if the school does not meet the academic standards set

by the state for two consecutive years. You can find out how well your

school is doing by looking at the school's report card.

If your child's school has been identified by the state as in need of

improvement, the school district must give you the choice of keeping your

child in that school or sending him or her to another public school.

If your child attends a school that has needed improvement for more than

a year, your school district is required to give you a list of organizations and

institutions that provide tutoring or extra help outside of the regular school

day. This extra help is called "supplemental educational services." If your

child is eligible for this help, and your income is low, the school district may

pay for these extra services. Such services may include before- and afterschool tutoring in reading, other language arts, or math.

If you have not heard from your public school about whether the school is

“in need of improvement” and whether your child qualifies to receive supplemental educational services, contact the school or the school district

and ask for the person(s) in charge of choice and supplemental services

programs. You can also go to your state department of education's Web

site for a list of schools in need of improvement and approved supplemental educational services providers. If you have difficulty finding these lists,

call the U.S. Department of Education at 1-888-814-6252 for help in

reaching your state contact, or go to the U.S. Department of Education's

Web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html for a list

of contacts in your state.

9
Four Steps for Selecting the School

That IsRight forYour Child

If you were looking to buy a car, vacuum cleaner, or

refrigerator, you could talk to friends and family and find

information on the Internet, in consumer magazines, or in

other published resources. Similarly, when investigating

schools, you may also have to make phone calls, collect

written material from different schools and look for reports in

your local paper to get the information you need. You can

check public school report cards (see Parent Tip) and go to

parent fairs and school open houses.

You can find reliable school

information online on sites such

as www.greatschools.net

and www.schoolmatters.org,

as well as other sites listed in the Resources

section of this booklet. The hard work will be

worth your while if you find a school that

brings out the best in your child. 10

Gather

Information

About Step2Schools
Along with the schools’ curricula and

philosophy, you will want to know

about school policies and services.

Parents may also wish to consider the

after-school programs a school offers,

for example, sports, clubs, tutoring, or

academic enrichment. Some schools

have after-school activities funded by

the U.S. Department of Education’s

21st Century Community Learning

Centers program. These centers provide educational activities outside of the

regular school hours—before and after

school or during summer vacation—

that complement what is taught in

school. You may also want to ask if the

school has supplemental educational

services, including free tutoring, that are

offered outside of the regular school

hours under No Child Left Behind.

Curriculum

Does the school have a strong program of core academic subjects such

as English, history, mathematics, science, arts, and foreign languages?

What courses does the school offer in

addition to the core subjects?

What evidence is there that the

school is effectively teaching students

to read?

Does the school have a special focus

or theme for the curriculum?

Does the school offer challenging

courses such as Advanced Placement,

International Baccalaureate, and high

school honors courses?

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12

Does the school provide enrichment

opportunities for all students? For gifted

students?

Does the school have extracurricular

activities that support what is taught?

Is there an effective English language

acquisition program for children who

need it?

If your child has special learning needs,

does the school have a curriculum and

the necessary supports to appropriately

accommodate those needs?

Approach to Learning

Does the school have a particular

approach to teaching and learning (e.g.,

group projects, individual performance,

frequent testing)?

If yes, do you think your child will enjoy

and learn from this approach?

Does the school do all it can to make

sure each child learns? Does it provide

opportunities for children to get extra

help when they need it?

Is the school staff able to communicate

in the language that your child understands?

Are children with limited English language skills, learning disabilities, or other

special needs learning and performing

well on tests?

What is the homework policy? Does it

match your expectations for how much

homework your child should do?

Do you want your child to go to a singlesex (all-boy or all-girl) school, or a coeducational school?

How large are the classes?
1

3

AcademicPerformance

Howdotheschool’stestscorescom-

paretothoseofotherschools?

(Checktheschool’sreportcardifitis

apublicschooloraskforinformation

fromtheschoolifitisaprivate

school.See“ParentTip”onschool

reportcards.)

Inthepastfewyears,havetest

scoresrisenordeclined?Howdoes

theschoolexplaintheriseordecline?

Howwellhavechildrensimilarto

yoursperformedonthesetests?

Howdostudentsmovingontothe

nextlevelofschoolingperformintheir

newschools?

Howmanystudentsleavetheschool

beforecompletingthelastgrade?

Whatspecialachievementsorrecog-

nitionhastheschoolreceived?

BehaviorPolicy

Whatdoestheschooldotohelp

developcharacterandcitizenship?

Whatisthedisciplinepolicy?How

doestheschoolhandlestudentswho

misbehave?

Areteachersfairintheirresponsesto

students?Doestheschoolhavea

programandsupportstopreventand

addressbehaviorproblems?

Arestudentsallowedtoleaveschool

bythemselves?

Whatmeasureshastheschooltaken

toensuresafety?Whatsecurity

measuresareinplace?
Parent Tip:

Check the School District’s

Report Card for Public Schools

No Child Left Behind requires school districts

that receive federal funds to provide a report

card on how its schools and the school district

are doing. For individual schools, the report

card includes whether the school has been

identified for school improvement and how its

students performed on state tests compared to

other students in the school district and the state.

For the district, the report includes the combined test scores of the

students at all the district’s schools.

Public school report cards should include:

Students’ scores on state tests, broken out by student subgroups;

How many students performed at the “basic,” “proficient,” and

“advanced” levels on the tests;

Graduation rates;

Numbers and names of schools that need to improve in the district;

Qualifications of teachers; and

Percentage of students who were not tested.

14
B

ehaviorPolicy(continued)

Whatisthepolicyonschool

absences?Howdoestheschool

encouragedailyattendance?

Doschoolpersonnelcallparents

whenstudentsareabsent?

Doestheschoolhaveadrugand

alcoholabusepreventionprogram?

Doestheschoolhaveadresscode?

Dostudentswearuniforms?

Safety

Istheschoolsafe?

Howdoestheschoolpreventand

handleproblemswithdrugs,alcohol,

andtobacco?

Howdoestheschoolpreventand

handleviolence,bullying,harassment,

andotherformsofabusivebehavior?

Whatmeasuresdoestheschooltake

toensuresafety?Whatsecurity

measuresareinplace?

Whatistheschool’srelationshipwith

thelocalpolice?

Isthereapoliceofficerondutyduring

schoolhoursandforextracurricular

activities?

Whatinformationisavailableonseri-

ouscrimeintheschool?

Whatinformationisavailableonstu-

dentsbringingweaponstoschool?

Doestheschoolhaveanemergency

planforlocalandnationalemergencies?

Whatdoestheschooldotoensure

thatparentsandallschooladminis-

tratorsknowtheemergencyplan?

15
Are there drills?

How does the school notify parents

about emergency closings? How

does the school communicate with

parents in other languages?

Special Offerings

What extracurricular activities does

the school offer after school or on

weekends?

Do all students have the opportunity to

participate in extracurricular activities?

What interscholastic activities are

available to students?

What intramural activities are available

to students?

What activities receive the most attention and resources?

Are there school and student

publications?

Does the school sponsor field trips?

Are they available to all students?

Are publications for parents available

in other languages?

Facilities and Services

Is there a well-stocked library where

students can check out books and

do research? Are reading materials

available in other languages?

Is there interlibrary loan?

Is time provided in the day for students to go to the library?

Do students have access to computers and to the Internet in the classroom and library?

Is use of the Internet monitored?

16

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I

sthereanauditoriumoralarge

roomforschoolassemblies?

Isaschoolnurseondutydaily?

Isthereacafeteria,anddoesthe

schoolofferanutritionallywell-bal-

ancedlunchprogram?Breakfast

program?

Issupervisedbefore-andafterschool care offered? Are there tutoring programs? Are counseling services availab

leto

students?

Istheschoolaccessibletochildren

withmobilitylimitations?

AdmissionsProceduresfor

PublicSchoolsofChoiceand

PrivateSchools

Isthereanapplicationprocess?

Whatistheapplicationdeadline?

Isanythingelserequiredintheappli-

cation(testscores,interview,recom-

mendations,applicationfees,etc.)?

Aretestscoresrequiredforadmis-

sion?Whataretherangesofscores

foradmittedstudents?

Doadmissionsrequirementsincludea

portfolio,anauditionorstatementof

interest?

Arethereanyotheradmissions

requirements?

Areadmissionsrequirementspub-

lishedinlanguagesotherthan

English?

17
Additional Questions About

Private Schools

What is the tuition?

Is there a payment plan?

Is there a sliding scale for tuition,

based on parish, church affiliation, or

family income?

What are the other fees and expenses

(room and board, uniforms, books,

transportation, lab and computer

fees, activity fees)?

What scholarships and loans are

available?

Are students or their parents required

to be of a particular faith?

Does the school have a policy on student participation in religious instruction and worship?

Does the school close for religious

and federal holidays?

Does the school have the same

schedule as the local public school?

Additional Questions About

Home Schools

Have you identified curriculum materials for your child, and how much

they will cost?

Is there a suitable place for your

child’s study and instruction?

Do you, your spouse, or another

homeschooling parent have adequate free time to be available to

your homeschooling child?

NOTE 

PAD

Read the

questions and

jot down some

notes to help

you with your

decisions.

18
Do other families in your area homeschool their children?

Is there a support group of homeschoolers near you?

If you are interested in some outside

instructional support, have you

checked your local library, parks

department, scouting organizations,

public and private schools, and similar resources?

Have you searched the Web for

resources on instruction, legal

issues, support groups, and other

matters?

Have you identified other resources

you will need?

Have you checked state regulations?

(They are usually available on the

web or from your local public school

or school district.)

Parent Tip:

Know Your Options Under the

No Child Left Behind Act for Children

in Public Schools That Are Unsafe

Parents of children in unsafe public schools may

have the opportunity to transfer their children to

safe public schools.

Children should not have to attend unsafe schools.

NCLB requires public schools to offer parents the

opportunity to transfer their children to safe public

schools if the state designates their public elementary

or secondary schools as unsafe. Your children must also

be offered opportunities to transfer to other public schools

in the district if they have been the victims of violent crimes while in school or on

school grounds. To find out if your child’s school has been designated as unsafe

by the state, you can contact either your local school district office or the state

department of education. A list of state contacts can be found at

http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.

19
Four Steps for Selecting the School

That IsRight forYour Child

Contact the schools you are interested in and make an

appointment for a visit. If possible, tour the schools during

regular school hours and visit a few classes. Avoid visiting

schools during the first or last week of a semester in order to

get a realistic sense of how the school operates.

A good way to have your questions answered is to schedule

an appointment with the school principal. If possible, attend

an open house, parent-teacher meeting, or other school

function that would also provide valuable information about

the attitudes of staff, students, and parents.

Listen closely to what teachers say about the

school. The teachers will be the adults

closest to your child, and you

will want to know if they are

well prepared, dedicated,

and happy in their work.

Visit &

Observe

S Schools Step3

20
Culture

Is the school secretary helpful

and friendly?

Is the school orderly and neat?

What do the bulletin boards look like?

How is student work displayed?

How does the school communicate

with students and parents (weekly/monthly newsletter, e-mail, Web

site)?

Do the students appear to be courteous, happy, and disciplined?

Is there a welcoming attitude toward

all parents?

How are the students with diverse

learning needs (e.g., students with

disabilities and students with limited

English proficiency) treated?

Do the teachers appear to be helpful

and friendly?

Principal

What is the principal’s philosophy

about education?

What is the principal’s attitude

toward discipline?

In what extracurricular activities is

the principal most interested?

What is the principal’s reputation in

the community?

Is the principal usually at the school

and available to talk to parents?

Does the principal get to know the

students?

NOTE 

PAD

Read the

questions and

jot down some

notes to help

you with your

decisions.

21
How often does the principal

observe teachers?

What does the school do to keep

good teachers and improve teacher

performance?

How does the principal respond to

parental concerns/complaints?

What is the principal’s attitude

toward students with diverse learning needs (e.g., students with disabilities and students with limited

English proficiency)?

According to the principal, what are

the school’s strengths?

According to the principal, what are

the school’s weaknesses?

According to the principal, where

can the school improve?

Teachers

How do teachers grade student

work?

Do teachers have high expectations

for all students to achieve to high

academic standards?

How do teachers inform students of

their expectations?

Do teachers share the course content

and objectives with parents?

When and how frequently are teachers available for parent conferences?

Do teachers assign homework? Is it

rigorous? Frequent? Sufficient?

Are the teachers highly qualified to

teach in their subject areas (do they

know the subjects they are teaching)?

NOTE 

PAD

Read the

questions and

jot down some

notes to help

you with your

decisions.

22
D

oteachershavetheskillsand

knowledgetoaddressstudentswith

speciallearningneeds?

Arespecializedstaffsavailableto

addressthespeciallearningneeds

ofachild(e.g.,speechtherapist,

psychologistoraides)?

Dotheteachersknowtheindividual

studentsintheirclasses?

Areteacherswillingtoprovideextra

helptostudents?

Whatistheschool’spolicyregarding

teacherresponsetoparentinquiries?

DoteachershaveWebsiteswith

classnotesandotherinformationfor

studentsandparents?

Students

Whatistheattendanceratefor

students?

Whatdostudentssayaboutthe

principal?

Whatdostudentssayaboutthe

teachers?

Dothestudentshaveschoolspirit?

Whatdostudentssayabout

homework?

Dostudentsparticipateinandenjoy

fieldtrips?

Dostudentsfeelsafeandsecureat

theschool?

Whatdostudentpublicationssay?

Whatelsedostudentssayaboutthe

school?

23
Parent and Community

Involvement

How does the school encourage

parental involvement?

What are the ways parents can get

involved?

Are parents encouraged to volunteer?

Does the school have an active parent-teacher organization?

Does the school hold meetings and

events at times when parents can

attend?

How well attended are back-toschool nights by parents?

Are families expected to be involved

with homework?

How frequently does the school

communicate with parents?

Are community leaders involved with

the school?

Does the school partner with local

businesses and organizations?

Are parents involved in the development of school policies?

Reputation

How is the school regarded in the

community?

How is the school viewed by other

parents?

Is the school respected by other

schools, particularly those that

receive its students (when they move

to the next level)?

NOTE 

PAD

Read the

questions and

jot down some

notes to help

you with your

decisions.

24
Has the school won any awards?

Do people move to the community

to go to the school?

What do the graduates of the school

say?

Have graduates from the school

made significant contributions to the

community and their field of choice?

Parent Tip:

10 Things to Look for in a School

High expectations

Busy students

Great teachers

Great principal

Vibrant parent-teacher organization

Children are neither invisible nor scared to be at school

Gut reaction that this is the school for your child

Rigorous curriculum

Families like yours are welcome, and their concerns are acknowledged

You are satisfied with the school’s results on standardized tests and school

report cards

Source: Minnesota Department of Education, Office of Choice and Innovation

25
Four Steps for Selecting the School

That IsRight forYour Child

Once you select the school(s) that you think will be best for your

child, you will go through a process of applying to a school (or

schools) of your choice and enrolling your child. Consider

applying to more than one school, in case your child is not

admitted to their first choice.

You will want to begin this process as

early as possible in order to ensure

you meet all the deadlines.

Admissions processes can vary. Your

child may need to be tested or interviewed, and you may need to provide a school transcript, recommendations, or other information.

It would be helpful to learn about

admissions criteria for the schools.

You will want to double check to be

sure you have accurate information

on when and how to apply.

Step4 Apply

to the

School(s)

You Choose

26
Select one or more

schools to apply to

To which schools do you want to

apply?

What is the application deadline at

each school?

Submit paperwork and applications before the deadlines

Have you completely filled out the

application for each school?

Have you included all of the required

additional information with the application (deposit, student transcript,

test scores, letters of recommendation)?

Have you submitted applications

before the deadline set by each

school?

Follow up

Have you contacted each school to

check on your child’s application

status?

When will the schools notify you that

your child has been admitted?

When will you need to notify the

school that your child plans to

attend?

When will you notify the schools that

your child will not attend?

NOTE 

PAD

Read the

questions and

jot down some

notes to help

you with your

decisions.

27
28

Parent Tip:

Start Early & Cover All the Steps

Begin the process of choosing

a school as early as possible.

Find out as soon as possible about the

deadlines for applying to the schools you

are considering.

Note that some schools require applications

much earlier than others.

Keep These 4 Steps in Mind:

Step 1. Consider your child and your family.

Step 2. Gather information about schools.

Step 3. Visit and observe schools.

Step 4. Apply to the school(s) you choose.
29

Congratulations

Congratulations on all the planning you have done to reach this point. Your child

will benefit tremendously from your active concern and involvement with his or

her education. By collecting information, talking to other parents, visiting

schools, and exercising your right to choose, you can now take the lead in making sure your son or daughter gets the best possible education. However, this is

only the beginning. By staying involved in your child’s education, encouraging

your child to work hard, and providing additional opportunities to learn at home

and in the community, you can help your child go further still. Remember it is

your right, as well as your responsibility, to seek the very best education for your

son or daughter.
Parent Tip:

Find Helpful Resources at the

U.S. Department of Education’s

Choice Web Site

www.ed.gov/nclb/choice

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and

Improvement (OII) provides information regarding the choices available to

parents seeking the best educational opportunities for their children.

Office of Innovation and Improvement

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Ave. S.W.

Washington, DC 20202

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii

202-205-4500

30
Resources

Web Sites for Directories&

Other Information

Choice Web Site www.ed.gov/nclb/choice

Many otherWeb sites provide information related to school choice.

Information for parents from the U.S. Department of Education at www.ed.gov

(Click on the “Parents” box.)

Council of Chief State School Officers (links to state education agencies where

you can learn about school performance and supplemental educational services providers) at www.ccsso.org

GreatSchools.net (school profiles and comparative performance data) at

www.greatschools.net

National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (search

for public and private schools) at http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator

Office of Non-Public Education, U.S. Department of Education (links to nonpublic school organizations, private school locator, and other information about nonpublic education) at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/nonpublic/index.html

Parental Information and Resource Centers (directory of centers across the

country) at www.ed.gov/programs/pirc/grantees.html

SchoolMatters.org (comparative performance data) at www.schoolmatters.org

U.S. Charter Schools (information about charter schools)

at www.uscharterschools.org

Web sites for homeschoolers: The Web has many resources, including instructional materials, assistance on legal issues, links to support groups, and others.

Web sites for homeschoolers are too numerous to list here, but a search on

terms such as “homeschool” or “homeschooling” should lead you to those sites

that best match your interests and needs.

31
Alliance for School Choice

1660 L Street, NW

Suite 1000

Washington, DC 20036

202-280-1990

www.allianceforschoolchoice.org

Black Alliance for Educational

Options (BAEO)

1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Suite 1200

Washington, DC 20036

202-429-2236

www.baeo.org

Center for Education Reform

(CER)

1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Suite 204

Washington, DC 20036

202-822-9000

www.edreform.com

Council for American Private

Education (CAPE)

13017 Wisteria Drive #457

Germantown, MD 20874

301-916-8460

www.capenet.org

Hispanic Council for Reform and

Educational Options (Hispanic

CREO)

2600 Virginia Avenue, NW

Suite 408

Washington, DC 20037

1-877-888-2736

www.hcreo.org

Note: The lists on the Resources pages

provide examples that may be useful

for parents. No endorsement by the

U.S. Department of Education of these

Web sites, books, or organizations

should be implied.

Parent Information

Organizations

There are many organizations that can provide valuable information to assist

parents seeking to choose a school. The following are a few examples:

32
33

Acknowledgments

This publication was adapted from Choosing a School for Your Child by

Susan Perkins Weston, with contributions from Joe Nathan and Mary Anne

Raywid, originally published in 1989 by the Office of Educational Research

and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. The original edition was

prepared in 2005 by the Office of Innovation and Improvement.

We are grateful for the reviewers from outside the U.S. Department of

Education who commented on the original version of this book.
34

Your Contacts

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35

N

HELPFUL 

AMES

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36

Your Contacts

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37

N

HELPFUL 

AMES

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38

Notes
39
40

Notes
41


44

Office of Innovation and Improvement

U.S. Department of Education

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202-205-4500

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The Department of Education's mission is to promote student achievement

and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational

excellence and ensuring equal access.

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