When it comes to choosing a school for their children, parents have a lot to consider. From academic excellence to spiritual formation, there are many factors that go into making the right decision. In collaboration with the International Association of Christian Schools (ACSI), Barna recently conducted research on the expectations of parents of current and future Christian students. The results show that parents of current students are more likely to prioritize spiritual formation when considering different schools, while parents of future students are more likely to prioritize caring and accessible teachers.
When it comes to spiritual formation, 82% of parents of current students believe it is essential when considering the possibility of choosing between different schools. This is compared to only 26% of parents of future students who think the same. Parents with children who currently attend Christian schools are more likely to think about the freedom to ask questions or raise questions, such as those related to their faith. When it comes to other aspects of education, 91% of expectant parents believe that caring and accessible teachers are essential, while 80% believe that academic excellence is essential.
Overall, 86% rate the school with seven or more, and more than two-thirds of current parents choose “encourages excellence” to describe private Christian schools, placing them well above other types of schools. If a student is placed by their parents in a private school and is suspected of having a disability, the local district is responsible for holding the CSE meeting to determine if the student is eligible for special education and, if determined to qualify for special education, for recommending the special education services that the student will receive and documenting those recommendations in an IESP. The local school district is required to provide special education services to an eligible student who legally resides in another state and who is placed by their parents in a non-public school located in New York State only to the extent that such services provide the student with an equitable share in federally funded IDEA services. Parental consent must be obtained before sharing any personally identifying information about the student related to special education between local public school district officials and officials of the public school district of residence.
Nothing in IDEA or state law would prevent the location district from hiring the district of residence as an external provider to fulfill its obligations to provide special education services, except that parental consent is required to share information between the district of residence and the district of location. The process for the Location School District to recover its costs from the School of Residence District for students residing in New York State is outlined in 34 CFR section 300.134 consultation requirements. This does not apply to students admitted by CSEs to approved private schools. In conclusion, when it comes to choosing a school for their children, parents should consider all aspects of education including spiritual formation, academic excellence, caring and accessible teachers, and special education services. It is important for parents to understand all requirements and processes related to special education services when considering a private Christian school.
