Research and Resources
Labeling a school as either public or private is only the first step in defining a school.
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions that you, as parents, will make. Understanding your options is vital. Unless you are considering homeschooling, your decision basically comes down to public school versus private school. However, there are options within each of these categories, too.
Public schools, which may be elementary or secondary, are supported by public funds – our tax dollars – and they provide free education for the children in their community. Private schools, on the other hand, are funded by their own resources.
Labeling a school as either public or private is only the first step in defining a school because those two labels can actually be thought of as umbrella terms for a wide variety of schools with varying missions, support and governing structures.
- Private schools – Any school that is non-public and is funded by its own resources, which means it does not receive any public funds or tax dollars for the education of its students. Examples of private schools are independent, boarding, special needs, parochial or religious, or even for-profit schools.
- Independent schools are just that – independent. They govern themselves, usually through an independent board of governors or trustees. In addition, they support themselves financially through a combination of tuition, donations and gifts, and perhaps the investment yield of an endowment.
- Boarding schools are residential, private schools where students learn, live and play together. Students live in dormitories or resident halls, take their meals in dining halls, and are supervised by members of the school’s staff.
- Day schools are private schools that educate children during the day. The students return to their homes at the end of each school day, as opposed to boarding schools where students live on campus.
- Special needs schools are designed to meet the needs of students with a wide range of learning differences, with specially trained teachers and staff.
- Parochial schools – Most parochial schools are owned, governed, and financed by religious institutions such as a diocese or parish.
- Charter schools are nonsectarian public schools that operate free of many state-level school regulations. They are schools of choice, meaning that students and teachers choose them. They do not charge tuition but they do receive public funds according to their enrollment and state laws.
Links for more information
National Association of Independent Schools
http://www.nais.org
California Association of Independent Schools
http://www.caisca.org
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
http://www.boardingschools.com
US Charter Schools
http://www.uscharterschools.org
California Charter Schools Association
http://www.myschool.org
