Lately, you might have seen charter schools in the news a lot. If you do not completely understand what a charter school is, though, you’re not alone. Many parents do not know much about these schools or what they have to offer.
There are superb high schools in Utah, but should you rely on a private one or seek a charter option instead? We’ll talk about private and charter schools right now. We’ll run through some of the main selling points of each one, so you’ll know which sounds best for your kids.
An Overview of Private Schools
Private schools are institutions that are not funded by any public tax money. They are created and run by individuals who want to try out their own curriculum.
You might send your kids to a private school if you have certain religious beliefs, for instance. The classes at a private school might little resemble those you’d see in a public school, or a charter school, for that matter.
An Overview of Charter Schools
Charter schools receive money from public funds, such as school taxes. However, they are run independently from the rest of the local school district. They are technically still part of that district, though.
Educators run them independently, but they are tuition-free for the students. Some parents feel charter schools are a better option than regular public schools because of the faculty that works there. Sometimes, teachers and administrators are willing to work at a charter school that will not work in the rest of the public school system.
Which is the Better Choice for Your Child?
These two school types might sound pretty similar to each other, but the fact is they are nothing alike. Charter schools use public funding. This means that even though they have independence in how they are run and how the staff creates the curriculum, they must still adhere to certain standards and best practices to stay open and functioning.
Private schools, on the other hand, answer to no one. Because they have completely private funding and are run by special interests, you can take a look at the curriculum and feel sure that your children are being taught values in which you believe.
You Have More of an Influence with Private Schools
Parents always have some degree of influence with schools, but you have much more of a say in what happens at a private school than you would at a charter one. With a charter school, you might voice an opinion, but the administrators have no obligation to listen to your advice.
Private schools, if they want to keep the parents happy, must teach the kids lessons in which all the adults involved can agree. The parents keep a close eye on the lesson plans to ensure their kids are learning about subjects of which the parents approve.
You will usually look at the curriculum of charter and private schools in your area before ultimately determining which one should educate your child.
