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 1. Top-notch facilities Does your school have a computer lab with new machines and new educational software, a media center or state-of-the-art science and technology building? Is the library staffed all day or just for a few hours? Does your school have a theater, auditorium or large multi-purpose room for assemblies and plays? The Media Center at Woodbury Elementary School in Irvine, which opened in October 2007, is an example of a first-rate facility that boosts the quality of education. The center is staffed with two media technicians and features the library, an LCD projector and an online computer lab with 37 computers to accommodate a large class. “We have additional software that’s connected with the curriculum. We hired a wonderful computer teacher, and she is constantly communicating with the teachers about what the kids need, and she’s designing lessons,” says Lauren Sipelis, director of Elementary Education for the Irvine Unified School District and Woodbury’s principal last year. “The facilities can really enhance what the teachers are doing.” 2. Positive school culture When you have some extra time, walk around your child’s school. What does it feel like as you walk in the hallways? Do you see examples of student work exhibited in the hallways, break rooms and cafeteria? What kind of attitude is present at the school? Was the front office staff cheerful and helpful? “Those are things that define the culture of the school,” says Orange County Superintendent of Schools William Habermehl, who urges parents to check out their child’s school. “It is your school. Parents need to realize they don’t just go in the door and register their child and leave and wait for back-to-school night. You can leave suggestions and recommendations.” A key part of a positive school culture is what California Secretary of Education Dr. David Long calls, “a nurturing and caring environment.” Dr. Long, a veteran educator for more than 40 years, says, “The school needs to be student-centered. Decisions are always about what is best for the children, not the adults.” He says a great school sets clear objectives and expectations for students and parents regarding achievement and behavior. The best schools are also responsive to problems such as bullying and health concerns. 3. A fabulous principal An outstanding principal motivates teachers and makes sure students feel proud of their work. “The principal should be a visionary and a leader,” says Habermehl. Parents should inquire how long the principal has been at their child’s school, about the principal’s vision for the school and his or her past accomplishments. 4. Qualified and caring teachers Great teachers go the extra mile for students. They praise students, help students at various ability levels meet their potential and keep parents posted about campus events or issues in the classroom. According to Dr. Long, who was a teacher for 21 years and is the former Superintendent of Schools for Riverside County, “That great teacher exudes a caring, loving environment with high levels of expertise. There is a positive two-way flow of information and communication.” Another way to determine a high school teacher’s qualifications is to find out if that teacher holds credentials specific to the subject he or she is teaching, says Habermehl. 5. Extra opportunities for learning – and having fun “I call it, ‘Putting the fun back in fundamentals,’” says Habermehl. “Education should be fun.” To that end, a great school offers extra activities that children enjoy and teach vital skills like teamwork, leadership and critical thinking. Habermehl’s office offers one such program called the Peer Assistance League (PAL), which is in about 400 middle and high schools in Orange County. PAL students act as leaders and mentors by taking new students on campus tours and being a new friend at school. Excellent schools offer before-school and after-school clubs, a variety of sports programs, beach cleanup days, an active student government and academic competitions like the Academic Decathlon. “These things are opportunities for kids to expand and excel and try things,” says Habermehl. 6. Community Connections: A strong PTA, education foundation and booster clubs Don’t underestimate the influence of community and parent groups that pump millions of dollars and hours of volunteer work each year into public schools. These groups fund field trips, pay for new computer labs, run school carnivals, fund health initiatives, pay for sports team and band uniforms and sponsor reading-reward programs, among many other things. Here’s a prime example of what an education foundation can do in a time of need: With impending budget cuts, the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation raised $1 million last spring to help prevent teacher layoffs and preserve smaller class sizes of a 20:1 student-teacher ratio in the lower grades. The CUSD Foundation’s donation, combined with other monies and a smaller state-funding cut, allowed the district to keep all 266 teachers who had received layoff notices. “Community involvement is so important. Outside money is going to be more and more of a factor for public schools now,” says Foundation Executive Director Stacey Flynn. 7. Honors and awards for successes Outstanding schools celebrate successes and honors their students and staff. Joanne Long, the principal at Susan B. Anthony Elementary in Corona, knows this well. She holds weekly Friday assemblies for her students, staff, PTA, families and others. She recognizes students for everything from good attendance to good grades to proper manners. This principal further expands her “school family” by holding an annual Grandparents Day on campus, which some 600 to 700 grandparents attend each year. 8. Arts education When school budgets are cut, music, art and drama programs are often the first to go. Does your school have a choir, art or drama instruction? These programs can be taught by paid staff or volunteers. At Vintage Hills Elementary School in Temecula, parent volunteers run an art program called Meet the Masters, which includes academic instruction about famous painters and a drawing activity related to the artist. Last year, Vincent Van Gogh was among the featured painters, and the students had loads of fun learning to draw Van Gogh’s signature swirls. 9. College preparatory classes and programs Great high schools offer a wide range of Advanced Placement courses, and some offer the rigorous International Baccalaureate program. The AVID Program (Advance Via Individual Determination) is another great college prep course. AVID increases students’ opportunities to enroll in four-year colleges and offers extra help with test preparation and college applications. More than 2,300 schools in 40 states and 15 foreign countries offer AVID, and approximately 75 percent of AVID students were accepted to four-year colleges in 2005, according to the California Department of Education. 10. High test scores Test scores are important but not a major indicator of a school’s success, because they often reflect student demographics; factors like the percentage of non-English-speaking students can lead to lower scores. However, parents can check to see if their school’s test scores meet achievement standards set by the California Department of Education and the federal No Child Left Behind law. Check your school or district’s website for its Annual Report or School Accountability Report Card, or visit the California Department of Education online at cde.ca.gov; click on to Data & Statistics to look up Academic Performance Index (API) scores, High School Exit Exam passage rates and other scores. Resources: * California Department of Education: cde.ca.gov * Meet the Masters art program: meetthemasters.com * California PTA: capta.org * California Consortium of Education Foundations (find an education foundation in your area): cceflink.org * AVID Program: cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/ps/avidgen.asp International Baccalaureate program: ibo.org |
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