Knowing your goals is critical to getting the education you want for your child. So, take time to answer these questions. Better yet, if your child is old enough, take time with your child to answer them together. And remember, your child's interests and abilities are not set in stone.

What Are Your Hopes and Dreams for Your Child?

This is where you start. Think about what you most hope for your child - today and tomorrow. Answer the following five questions to figure out what kind of school would help your child fulfill these dreams.

  1. What would you like your child to be like when she becomes an adult? Consider her educational achievements, career and character.
  2. What unique learning needs would you want a school to address? What unique talents would you want the school to help him explore and develop?
  3. What do you want your child to get from a school?
  4. What kinds of negative experiences do you want to make sure don’t happen to your child at school, like being beat up or getting held back?
  5. What values, programs or other characteristics describe your ideal school?
    • Circle items on the list that are “must haves."
    • Underline items on the list that are “nice to have’s” and
    • Add any items to the following list that you don’t see.

    Alternative Facilities Free Transportation
    Technology Special Education Small size
    Large size Back-To-Basics Before/After School Care
    Diverse Foreign Languages Gifted & Talented
    Music & Art Career Training Alternative Programs

Reality Check: Limits to Consider

Realistically, we all have a limited amount of time, money and other resources to allow us to pursue our goals. Recognizing these limits can help us focus our energy on our best obtainable options. What limitations do you have to take in to consideration as you make your choice? Here's a list of challenges that most families have to weigh.

  1. Money. Education costs money, lots of it. Even pubic school students may have hundreds of dollars in costs for transportation, clothes, tutors and extras.
  2. Travel. We all have limits on how much time and money we can afford to transport our child to school. Travel time will also impact your level of involvement in the school. Estimate that your involvement with the school will likely decrease 10 percent for every extra 10 minutes between your home and the school.
  3. Schedule. How flexible is your schedule? As you consider options, find out how flexible the school is in accomodating parents' schedules. This is particularly important for parent-teacher conferences and other important meetings about your child's academic future. If you can't make the meeting times, it will be very difficult to stay involved and monitor your child's progress.