How to Choose the Right Charter School in Michigan

Charter schools in Michigan give families more choices than ever. With 285 schools serving over 150,000 public school students across the state, parents have an exciting but sometimes overwhelming decision to make. How do you find the best fit for your child?

Andrew Campanella, President and CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation and author of The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child, shares his advice for navigating the process.

What is a charter school?

Before diving into your options, it’s helpful to understand what charter schools are and what makes them unique:

• Charter schools are tuition-free public schools open to all students.
• They operate with public funding just like traditional public schools but have the flexibility to innovate.
• Campanella notes: “What really makes charter schools unique is that they are able to come up with new, innovative and tailored ways to present education to students. This might be a theme, a specific instructional strategy, smaller class sizes, even different types of extracurricular activities.”

Step-by-step guide to choosing a charter school

1. Explore your options

Metro Detroit offers a range of charter schools, each with its own strengths. Don’t limit yourself to just one type of school.

• Campanella says: “Don’t box yourself in. A parent might say they want to send their child to a charter school without even taking a look at the charter public schools and the traditional public schools in the area, or considering virtual options, homeschooling or private education.”

2. Define your priorities

Ask yourself:

• What do I want my child to gain from their school experience?
• Does my child need a smaller class size, a focus on STEM or more hands-on learning?
• Is proximity to home important?

Campanella recommends reflecting on your own school experiences: “Think about the teachers who made a difference in your life, the most important things you learned, the skills you discovered that you now use every day, the classes that inspired you and the clubs and activities that helped you discover your interests.”

3. Create a list of schools

Research schools online and make a list based on your priorities. Check:

• School websites
• Reviews from trusted third-party sources
• Social media for insights into school culture

The MI School Data site is a great starting point.

What to look for in a charter school

Photo credit: National School Choice Week / National School Choice Awareness Foundation, Inc.

Academic programs and specialties

Does the school specialize in STEM, arts or language immersion? Does it focus on the academic excellence you are seeking for your child?

Support and class sizes

Ask about class sizes and how the school supports students’ academic and emotional needs.

Extracurricular opportunities

Explore clubs, sports and activities to find options that spark your child’s interest.

Top tips for school visits

1. Visit during school hours: Observe classes in action.
2. Ask questions: Inquire about curriculum, teacher qualifications and student support services.
3. Gauge your child’s reaction: Bring your child to visits, but remember the final decision is yours.

Advice for first-time families

Choosing a school for the first time can feel overwhelming, but Campanella offers encouragement:

• “You know more about your child than anyone else and you are in the driver’s seat.”
• Don’t wait too long: “If you are looking to make a change for the next school year, it’s so important to start in the winter. Don’t wait until the summer.”

Why timing matters

Starting early gives you the best chance to find the perfect school for your child. “Families that start early may fill available seats, but there’s a great feedback loop that happens between supply and demand,” Campanella explains. “You are helping yourself and other families to give the school a chance to grow if there is demand early.”

National School Choice Week is always the last week of January. In 2025, look for awareness-raising events locally during National School Choice Week, Jan. 26-Feb 1.

Content sponsored by Grand Valley State University Charter Schools Office. Learn more at gvsu.edu/cso.

Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s Guide to Michigan Charter Schools.

This post was originally published in 2022 and is updated regularly. 

from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/nXEpU45