Children in public schools throughout the same state follow the same curriculum. State government holds schools accountable for the students' level of achievement in important state tests. If test scores are not up to par for consecutive years, the state may step in to help restructure the curriculum.
Public schools reflect an area's diversity. Diversity throughout a class or an entire school may span race, class, gender or ability. Public schools may also provide integrated classrooms, where children with special needs learn alongside children with regular abilities. This type of environment aims to create more tolerance and understanding among students.
Paying for a private education does not necessarily equate to getting the best teachers available. Public schools actively recruit some of the most skilled teachers. According to the Manhatten Institute for Policy Research, public school teachers are paid at a rate of 61 percent more than their private school counterparts.
Deborah Vandell, a researcher from the University of Wisconsin lists benefits such as better grades and peer relationships resulting from participation in quality after-school activities. In public schools, students have many choices of teams, clubs and hobbies---these extracurriculars are often free or low costs. Every child has access to a public school, regardless of their socio-economic standing and so are the extracurricular activities.
Neighborhood public schools are the grassroots of communities. A sense of community is built when children spend leisure time with the same friends and families that they attend school with. Since public schools are offered in most neighborhoods, children may also have a chance to walk or bike to school; children perform better academically when they engage in physical activity, according to Dr. Jennifer Rupert of Kaiser Permanente in North Portland, Orgeon.
Yellow school buses are synonymous with public schools. Should you live more than a few blocks away from the school, expect for your child to be able to ride on the bus. Conveniently located bus stops mean that you'll simply drop off the kids and meet the bus in the afternoon.
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are eligible for grants to attract excellent teachers or to provide free extra tutoring for students who need it. Because of their diverse student bodies, public schools have an obligation to provide required services. Many schools open their doors early in the morning and provide breakfast for students should they need it. The Dr. Catherine Ellison/Rosa Parks school in Massachusetts, for instance, offers free "surround care," where students may stay from 7.30 am until 5:00 pm if their parents need the assistance.
Often alternatives are available to the standard elementary school within each school district. Charter and pilot schools are emerging and becoming popular options with parents wanting a say in their children's education. Both options exist under the umbrella of public schools. According to the National Education Association, the first two charters opened in 1991 and had grown to approximately 3,000 by 2004.
Although you pay for public schools through taxes, they are tuition-free establishments. Since you pay taxes anyway, consider using the resources available. Children get a solid education for approximately 12 years for no out-of-pocket cost to the parent.
According to Christopher Lubienski, a researcher from the University of Illinois, public schools are just as effective as their private counterparts. You may be drawn to public schools simply because they offer an amount of familiarity. When you have experienced something for yourself, it is easier to navigate your child through it. For some parents, private school may be out of their financial boundaries or go against their educational beliefs. Talk to others who feel they or their children fared well in public schools.