Learn about your options in this guide. If you're like most parents, you've probably heard some talk about school choice, but aren't quite sure how it applies to your child. This guide will introduce you to the possibilities. This reference is meant to include anybody serving as a student's guardian, including grandparents, legal guardians, etc.
School choice is a pretty new concept in California's public education system.
In the past several years, the options available to parents have increased dramatically, in line with a growing national consciousness that promoting competition in public education might spur schools to improve. One of the biggest recent changes in California public education is the growth of the charter school movement. Charter schools are public schools, not private schools. But charter school enrollment is only one of your options. Since 1994, every school district in California is required to have an open enrollment policy that allows district residents to apply, annually, for any school in the district, regardless of location.