happypamama Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Can anyone give me a link or more information about school choice in PA? I have a friend of a friend in a different part of the state from me who is unhappy with his child's school and wants to know if there is any sort of school choice possibility here? Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you looking for good PS in PA? A cyber school choice that everyone likes? Private schools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 An odd question. Your friend should simply check the website of the school district and any surrounding school districts within driving distance for additional school options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Is your friend looking to homeschool/private tutor, cyber school, use her school district's cyber-school (if they have one- usually only for high school), be a distance-student at a different school, find a local charter school, find a local private school, or attempt to enroll her child in a neighboring public school district? Or a different school in her own district? Those are all very different things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 I'm not entirely sure. It's a friend of my BIL, and he emailed me to see if I knew of anything. His friend is unhappy with the school where his child is going and wants to know if they're allowed to choose a different public school. In some places, you can live in district A but have the option of sending your child to district B, or maybe you have the option of choosing a different school within district A if there is one. I guess those areas have a school voucher or something? I don't know. But I asked a couple of former teacher friends about PA, and they said that we don't really have that option here at all. Apparently, here you have to get the permission of the district where you want to go, and you have to pay whatever their tuition cost is, plus provide your own transportation. I did suggest that my BIL's friend look into charter schools in their area, because at least where I am, if your child goes to a charter school, your home district pays for it. I also suggested that they consider a cyber school if the non-academic things (social, etc.) are why they're unhappy (and even if the academics are a problem, but I know you have fewer options with that than you do with full traditional homeschooling). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 OK- that makes sense. In my school district there is only 1 Jr high and 1 senior high, but 5 elementaries- some people petition the school board for a different elementary due to child care issues (babysitter lives on bus route to different school). Public charter schools are free to the family. But "I wanna go to the neigboring school district because they have a better BlahBlahBlah program" won't work here unless you pay tuition. Good luck to the friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 --There are plenty of private and parochial schools in PA; they come with tuition fee but often have financial aid.--There may be a bricks-and-mortar public charter school in the area; they are tuition-free to the family and the district has no say in it if you want to choose one, though the individual school may have admissions limits/criteria or geographical limits/criteria. The district pays the tuition. --There are quite a few public cyber-charter schools - basically public school at home. They are also tuition-free to the family (the district pays) and the district has no say in your choice, though the individual school may have admissions limits/criteria. --An ill child, or one who cannot attend school in person for other reasons, may qualify for homebound instruction, where a tutor comes to your home.--A home education program is an option - this is independent homeschooling and parents are responsible for any costs.--A child can be privately tutored at home; again, the parents are responsible for any costs. There are a few other options (church school, umbrella school (the legality of which is fuzzy), etc.).In addition, some districts (Philadelphia, etc.) do have some flexibility on which school a student attends; calling the district would help to clarify the options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Justasque, thank you! I did pass those options along. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I was actually homeschooled in PA, under the umbrella of a private school when I was a teen ( many many years ago). Maybe that would be a choice for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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