The Road to Kindergarten
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Last night I went to the parent orientation for the school my daughter will attend next year. She did not get picked in the lottery for the arts charter school or the Greek charter school, but she did win the lottery for one of the local Fundamental schools. For a while I struggled with whether to just accept the invitation to the Fundamental school or find the money to continue her in the Christian school where she attends pre-K.
In the end, I heard enough great things about the Fundamental program around here that I chose that direction. A Fundamental school has a back to the basics approach to education. The program has been so successful in our district that one of the Fundamental elementary schools in north county is consistently number one in state FCAT scores. The Fundamental where my daughter will attend is right behind. Educators from other states come to look our Fundamental program all of the time, using it as a model for their own.
The program works. My personal belief is that it is due to 100% parent involvement. Parents must agree to attend all 8 PTA meetings throughout the year, attend at least 3 parent-teacher conferences (rather than the one that most schools require), put in a minimum number of volunteer hours, read to their children at least twice a weeks, oversee homework 4 nights a week, and agree that a certain number of unexcused absences or tardies could get your child removed from the program.
There is also a stricter dress code than the rest of the district and the discipline expectations are higher. The best part of that, to me, is that violent children will simply be asked to leave and attend a traditional county school. Fundamental programs are a choice and as such, if you do not adhere to their policies, you can be asked to leave.
Overall, the kids do better, the school attracts better teachers, and overall environment is safer. I feel good about my choice. And, if Gigi does not like it, I can always send her back to the Christian school where I know she feels safe. And, it turns out that the regular district school our neighborhood was assigned to is one of the best in the district. So, the safety options are comfortable.
I had no idea there would be this much to choosing a school for Gigi. When I was her age, my parents simply chose the one elementary school in our DC suburb and that was that. It turns out we lived in one of the two top counties in the entire country for public schools, so I was fortunate. Here in Florida, you have to fight a little harder to make sure your child gets a top education.
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