Public school, private school, magnet and charter schools, homeschooling — each of these options for education has its merits. But how can you decide which option is the right fit for you and your student?
Andrew Campanella, president of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, said Utah has one of the most expansive school choice programs in the country both in and out of the public school system.
“If you want to make a change, and if you're looking for a new school, the wintertime is usually the best time to look,” he said.
He said Utah’s new Utah Fits All Scholarship program gives parents even more options to help their students succeed while supporting Utah’s educators.
“This is an opportunity for all education providers, whether they are in the public sector, the private sector, or the nonprofit sector to get involved in helping students learn,” Campanella said, "It's limited to 5,300 students in its first year, and every family who is accepted into the program will have $8,000 that they can spend on either private school tuition or educational tutoring or if they're homeschoolers on curriculum and materials.”
While the Utah Legislature debated the bill, it was often touted as a voucher program that would take funding away from public schools. But Campanella said the funds are more like an educational savings account that can be used to supplement any education, including one from a public school.
“You are able to mix and match learning that opens up additional opportunities for revenue or for funds for public education providers,” he said.
Campanella said, ultimately, it is up to individual families to decide what option is best for their student.
You can find more information on the Utah Fits All Scholarship here.
