Questions to Ask When Considering a New School

Key things to discuss with potential educators before making the switch for your child

By Andrew Campanella

More parents are actively focusing on their children’s education today than at any other time in recent memory. The pandemic challenged K-12 education like it had never been challenged before. Between ongoing uncertainty over school re-openings to concerns about the effectiveness of emergency remote-learning platforms, almost everyone experienced some form of educational anxiety.

While parents generally agree that teachers have gone above and beyond in helping students adjust to our “new normal,” many families have realized their child’s school is no longer the right fit. These parents are searching for different schools for their children and are looking into the public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home-learning options available to them. How can parents search for schools on the heels of a pandemic? If you are touring schools or participating in virtual tours and remote open houses, it’s essential to ask as many questions as possible to find an environment that truly meets your child’s needs. Remember: You are making a long-term decision, even if the virus is what motivated you to make a change. These questions will help give you some insight:

» What is your approach to education, and what makes your school unique? This question gives the school’s representative a chance to describe their school’s greatest asset or attribute—in their own words.

» What are your school’s academic expectations for students? Ask this question to let school leaders know you are focused on your child’s academic success, and that you want to talk about learning.

» What are some of the things you do to ensure students are learning at, or above, grade level? This question will establish that you, too, have expectations for schools—while providing school leaders with opportunities to explain how they work toward accelerating student learning and success.

» I want to make sure my child learns a lot. Are the classes challenging and rigorous, but also relevant and interesting? Children can often rise to the challenges of rigorous coursework, if it is presented in a relevant and interesting way. Ask this question to determine how a school combines rigor and relevance.

» What do you look for when you recruit teachers? How do you define an effective teacher? Ask this question to determine if the school has a specific approach to finding knowledgeable, talented educators whose skills align with the school’s values and culture.

» How do you regularly monitor and evaluate student learning, and what do you do if students are struggling? This question will help you find out when you will know if your child is learning at grade level, or if your child is struggling.

» How do you choose your curriculum and textbooks? If a school uses one specific curriculum or type of textbooks for its classes, you can research it when you get home.

» Do your teachers use a specific instructional strategy or method? (If so, what is it called, and can you explain what that means or how that works?) This question will help you know what happens in a classroom. For example, if you are told the school uses “differentiated instruction,” you might ask, “Can you describe how that looks day to day?”

» Can you tell me more about the different classes and activities you offer? This will help you determine whether the school offers the classes, clubs, activities, and sports programs that will be of interest to your child.

» How do you foster an environment of respect between students, teachers, and parents? Care and respect cannot be easily measured on a test, but they should be experienced every single day in a school building.

» Tell me about your school’s approach to keeping students safe and preventing bullying. Ask this question to determine whether the school has specific plans, policies, and procedures that align to your goals and priorities.

» Tell me about your school’s approach to homework and testing. Even if you don’t worry about this, you want to make sure you know exactly what will be expected of your child.

» What are the opportunities you have for parents to be involved? By asking this question, you can determine whether a school has a thoughtful approach to parental involvement and engagement.

» You may also wish to ask the school about its response to COVID-19, with questions including:

• How did your school react? • How does your school determine when or if it’s safe to hold in-person classes? • What platforms do you use to conduct remote learning? • What equipment is provided to students for online learning? • What has been the typical lead time given to parents when implementing a big change? • What precautions does your school take? • If a student or a teacher tests positive for COVID-19, how quickly are parents notified?

Andrew Campanella has served as president of National School Choice Week (NSCW) since 2012. The Week has become the world’s largest educationrelated public awareness effort. Parents can access information year-round at schoolchoiceweek.com.