Tuition Free Preschool

In New Haven the school district is using funds to offer free tuition preschool. "To attract students from neighboring districts, New Haven Public Schools offers tuition-free preschool."

"To support tuition-free preschools, the district redirects tuition money generated by interdistrict students in kindergarten through eighth grade back down to preschool."

To read further...

The Recession Hits The Preschools

I was doing a search for "tuition free preschools" and found this article about Texas preschools. The problem they are running into is that many middle class families make too high of an income to get financial aide and not high enough to afford the tuition.

The other dilemma is that daycare is a tax credit, dollar for dollar, whereas preschool is not tax deductible. So, if you had a choice between essentially free tuition at daycare vs. paying preschool tuition during this recession, the choice...well, there is no choice.

Paying for Preschool a Lesson in Economics

Tours and Applications

Many applications for the following school year become available in September and October but are not due right away. Applications for 2009/2010 school year would be picked up in Fall of 2008.

Example: The Buffalo Public Elementary and Secondary schools, "The choice application process begins each year in mid-September with an application submission deadline date the first week of December."

Many schools allow a tour before submitting an application. This gives you an opportunity to see if the school is a good fit for your child before the application is due. This is not always the case though, double check with the school to see if the tour or application comes first.

Some schools will be hosting open house nights in September or October that are open to potential candidates. Other schools prefer to do small group or one-on-one tour. You can look up the school's website or call the school ahead of time to find out how the the admission process works at each school on your list.

Additionally, some schools require an entrance exam like City Honors (public), Canisius, Nardin, Holy Angels, etc. Other will require an art portfolio or essay. This information will be on the school's website.

Here are some links to school admission pages on their websites. The Performing Arts and City Honor Schools go through the general school application process but require extra information for the admissions.

Public

Buffalo Public Schools General Application Information

City Honors - Public

School of the Performing Arts Elementary and High School - Public


Private

The Park School Of Buffalo - Private, Co-ed

Nichols - High School - Private, Co-ed


Canisius High School - Private, SS Boys

Buffalo Seminary High School - Private, SS Girls

Nardin - High School - Private, SS Girls

Holy Angels - Private, SS Girls


Charter

Tapestry Charter Crammer and High School

Westminster (They are having problems with their website)

Elmwood Charter School

Oracale Charter School

Schools - Too many to choose from

According to News Week, I went to a very good public school, top 5% in the nation. I am grateful for having such an opportunity. Today, I am faced with more choices then I imagined.

Websites
Once you know what you and your child's preferences are, it is time to start review the school websites. This will give you all the basics from teacher student ratio to the number of teachers with terminal degrees (they have completed all the education possible for their profession).

Internet
Do a search on the internet. It is not unusual for schools to make headlines. This is a valuable resource.

Friends & Neighbors
If you have friends with older children ask them if they will share some of their experiences from their school even if it is a school you do not think you will apply to. You may be surprised, or confirm your opinion of the school but most importantly you are building up a data base to compare to.

Gathering data can take a while, consider starting a year before the application is due.

Screening Schools

There are a plethora of attributes that a parent looks for in a school. Some parents have short lists, others rather long ones. Performance is usually near the top of the list for many parents, though it may not take the form in the highest test scoring schools. It may come out in the teaching method or focus on a talent, such as art or athletics. There are many other attributes that parents today have to identify as compared to when our own parents were looking for educational centers for us. Here are some items to consider. It may be helpful to list the ones you and your child find most important for later reference.

Core Focus
Academics
Vocational
Art/Music/Dance/Theater

Teaching Method
Magnate - Academic, Business or Talent focused
Conventional - Standard NYS education in publicly ran schools.
Classical / Liberal Arts - This method is often based on a liberal arts training. Extends from Grecian/Roman era.
Progressive - Montessori, Park, Waldorf, Emilio Reggio, and many more.

Athletics
Intramural - Team and Individual
Competitive - Team and Individual

Arts/Music/Dance/Theater
Art
Music
Dance
Theater

Social and Environmental Awareness
Classes - Social Skills Awareness & Environmental Awareness
Clubs - Social & Environmental
Activities - Social & Environmental - A chance to practice
Does the School practice what it preaches?

Travel and Field Trips
Local
State Wide
National
International

Health
Healthy food - Whole food, Allergens
Indoor physical activity (for winter)
Outdoor physical activity
Indoor Health of space (mold, Chemical odor, estrogen disruptor, carcinogens)
Outdoor Health of grounds (mold, chemical odor or spray, estrogen disruptor, carcinogens)