Parents Stumped by School Choice Question

School choice programs are only used by 1 in 7 parents when offered even though more than 50% of parents support the greater flexibility. Many parents indicate they are intimidated by the choice process and simply do not participate.

For Immediate Release . . .
Contact: Michael Warner
Tel: 727-820-9574
Email: mwarner@thegoodschool.com

Parents Stumped by School Choice Question

Saint Petersburg, FL - New evidence suggests school choice programs have not been widely accepted when they are offered to parents. Although more than half of parents support school choice programs only 1 in 7 use them given the opportunity. As more and more districts offer options, there has not a proportionate rise in their use.

The U.S. Department of Education recently reported in its 2002 "The Condition of Education", there has been an 11% increase in the number of school districts offering school choice programs since 1993. However, only 4% more parents are making use of them. The numbers surprise many advocates given the high rates of parental support. A poll conducted by Dresner, Wickers and Associates found Floridians supported school choice 2 to 1.

With such a high degree of support and low participation rates, research has begun into why the programs are encountering resistance. Several factors have been found to contribute to the slow acceptance including family income, availability of private schools, and the number of choices offered to parents. Dr. Elizabeth Pearman has discovered one of the biggest hurdles parents must clear is simply deciding how to choose a school.

The new responsibility of choosing a school often overwhelms parents. Test scores, teacher quality, special programs and other variables influence the final decision and need to be investigated. Deciding what questions to ask is half the work. Many parents simply don't have the time to create a comprehensive list of their concerns and aren't even sure where to begin. Dr. Pearman adds, "Choosing a school is new for most parents and they are somewhat nervous."

In her new book, The Good Elementary School, Dr. Pearman gives parents the framework they need to make thoughtful decisions about where their children learn. "I wrote the book so that it could be picked up and used confidently right away." It covers the entire scope of school life and gives parents a score for each school to aid in the final decision.

As an educational psychologist Elizabeth Pearman has written numerous articles on school quality. She is also well known for her successes as a consultant in school improvement.

The Good Elementary School is available for $14.95 in most bookstores, at www.amazon.com or www.thegoodschool.com, as well as by phoning 727-820-9574.

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The Good Elementary School by Dr. Elizabeth Pearman. Original Edition. 5.5" X 8.5", 80 pages. ISBN 0-9718574-0-7. $14.95. Publication: Autumn 2002.

Square Peg Publishing
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