Elementary Specialties

Once your child is eligible for elementary school, you are suddenly thrust into a bewildering universe, the world of school choice that will be a large part of the formative influences on your child’s life. Not surprisingly, it is also going to be a part of your family’s life for the next few years, as you become part of a school community. So this becomes a critical choice, and one not easily made. Unless you are so fortunate as to live in a neighborhood with a high quality public school that is also the kind of school you’re looking for, you will have to begin the process of touring and applying to schools.

Whether this process is exhilarating or frustrating, it is always time consuming. It does help to do your homework on what is available, and then narrow your field so as to make the school search more manageable. It also helps to know something about the different types of schools, so that you can make an informed choice about what type of education is right for your child and your family. L.A. School Scout can help you sort through your options, and guide you through the application process. Other than traditional public schools, or some highly academic private schools, there are some other choices out there. Here is a look at some of those choices:

Magnet Schools
Magnet schools were created as part of the public school system, outside of zoned school boundaries, in order to promote integration. They came into being in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a tool to further academic desegregation. The school was intended to “attract” students from across different school zones. Consequently Magnet schools do two things: 1) they open their enrollment geographically across traditional school zones, but within the same school district; and 2) they provide a learning environment that would attract students from other school zones, thereby encouraging families to desegregate their children to the Magnet school. They usually have something special to offer over a regular school which makes attending them an attractive choice to many students, thereby increasing the diversity of the student population within them.

Magnet schools are different from private or parochial schools in that they remain part of the public school system. They differ from Charter schools in that they remain part of the public school system bureaucratically. Charter Schools have a different organizational model (i.e. they have a charter that releases them from the regular school administration). Magnet schools operate under the same public school administration (they don’t operate on their own). They differ from other public schools in that they receive additional funding to enable them to spend more money on their students, supplies, teachers, programs, etc.

Also distinguishing them from other public schools is the fact that Magnet schools usually have alternative or otherwise compelling modes of instruction. For example, you might find a Magnet school dedicated to a particular area of knowledge, such as technology or the arts; or to a particular type of instruction, such as project-based learning.

Charter Schools
Charter schools were created to offer wider school choice, and to help solve the many challenges facing schools today. Their goal ultimately is to improve student learning, including:

• Providing innovative solutions to urban school challenges through the use of specific pedagogical practices
• Easing the shortage of school facilities and seat space in some areas
• Narrowing the achievement gap among students of various backgrounds
• Increasing parent and student involvement in learning
• Improving teacher quality and performance evaluation systems
• Serving as laboratories to test, demonstrate and disseminate ideas that can promote better educational practices
• Providing an additional educational option for parents

Of primary interest to parents is that school choice means that parents can apply to charter schools which are out of their district; while preference is often given to a particular group, such as residents of a particular school district, charter schools are open to enrollment by anyone in the state. This means that Santa Monica residents can attend LAUSD charter schools, and vice versa.

There are “dependent” and “independent” charter schools; some are semi-autonomous conversion charter schools that are funded and function essentially as regular District schools. They follow District policy except for those areas they specifically describe in their charters, such as, curriculum, pedagogy, philosophy, personnel and, or governance. Teachers and staff in dependent charter schools continue to be employees of the school district.

"Independent" charter schools may be either conversion or start up and may be either locally or direct- funded. These charter schools are fully autonomous and have the greatest degree of flexibility to design and implement the goals and procedures described in their charter petition. These charter schools hire their own staff, independent of the District, and have a prevailing philosophy and educational strategy that guide teaching and learning. These schools may be started by a group of parents, educators, community-based organizations, etc., and can include a wide variety of types of schools, including college prep, classical education, arts-based, Project-Based Learning, Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio-inspired, etc. 

An affiliated, dependent charter school can use its additional resources to develop and implement innovative programs that best meet the educational needs of its students and those of the District. While choosing not to separate from the District, affiliated charters will have greater fiscal and academic autonomy to pursue program development through increased site management. Affiliated charters will serve as model sites for exploring, developing and disseminating new charter policies and procedures.

Here is a look at a couple of different educational models:

WALDORF EDUCATION
The critical value of the Waldorf approach is not what is taught, but when and how it is taught. This integrated, developmental approach introduces subject matter as it corresponds to each stage of developmental readiness. Founded in 1919 by philosopher, social reformer and visionary Rudolf Steiner, the classical curriculum weaves art into every subject, using music, storytelling, drawing and movement to bring academic subjects to life. Waldorf education balances academics with artistic and practical disciplines, and intellectual learning is always combined with artistic, rhythmical and practical work. Outside the classroom, Waldorf students build wooden structures, work in the communal garden, and are attuned to the world of nature. The changes in season are marked through the school’s festivals, which are normally all-school events with parent involvement.

Waldorf teachers are qualified in a unique pedagogy with a global perspective that promotes peace and humanity. They are prepared to deliver their lessons orally, without the use of textbooks. Waldorf faculty members receive Waldorf teacher certification and attend training programs offered at accredited specialty colleges and research institutes.

Waldorf education offers a meaningful alternative to a standard academic curriculum. At the heart of the approach is the idea that the gifts of childhood must be valued and protected. The imagination is cherished and given every opportunity to bloom.

REGGIO APPROACH
The Reggio Emilia Approach to education was started by parents and educators, rebuilding the preschools of the city of Reggio Emilia in Italy after World War II. In this approach, children, teachers and parents are considered the three central protagonists in the educational process. There is an emphasis on work in small groups; the educational approach is based on the social constructivist model which supports the idea that we construct our own knowledge and learn best through our interaction with others, objects, and symbols. Reggio-inspired education utilizes the project-based approach to learning, based on the theoretical work of John Dewey, Maria Montessori and Lev Vygotsky, among others.

In a Reggio-inspired school teachers follow the children's interests rather than adhering to a set curriculum. They facilitate children’s exploration of themes and work on short-and long-term projects, and guide experiences of open-ended discovery and problem-solving. Academic and other subject matter is addressed within the context of multi-disciplinary project work; consistent with Howard Gardner's notion of schooling for multiple intelligences, the Reggio Emilia approach calls for the integration of the graphic arts as tools for cognitive, linguistic, and social development. Presentation of concepts and hypotheses in multiple forms of representation – writing, verbal, art, construction, drama, storyplay, music, etc. -- are viewed as essential to children's understanding of the experience.

Teachers encourage children to conduct research to find answers to their own questions rather than giving children standard texts with the “correct” answers. The Reggio approach to learning, which allows for differences in developmental levels, interests, and learning styles, is ideally suited to the classroom which includes all types of learners.

Documentation of student learning is unique in a Reggio learning environment, and teachers spend a great deal of time and thought on the documentation of their work with the children. The documentation acts as an assessment of the student’s learning, and helps make their learning visible for parents, teachers and children. The documentation fits into and is a critical part of the design and use of space, which is itself a vital component of Reggio-inspired education, where the school environment is seen as the “third teacher.” It has an underlying order and beauty in the organization of all the space in a school, the classroom itself, and the equipment and materials within it.

While the Reggio methodology is largely known for preschool, the approach has expanded to include Reggio-inspired elementary and middle schools in many cities and countries as well. 

 

Elementary School Consultation

If searching for a high-quality preschool with available space was a challenge, navigating the bewildering variety of elementary schools can be even more overwhelming. Coupled with the need for 2 hour blocks of time for each school tour, just keeping the names and philosophies behind each school becomes a very lonely and demanding task.
L.A. School Scout is your partner in this process, offering skilled professional assistance to help families on the Westside of Los Angeles find and choose an elementary school that is a good match for your family’s expectations of what “school” is about, and which will foster your child’s academic, creative, physical and social-emotional growth.
We provide each family with in-depth knowledge of local educational programs, including charter schools, magnet schools, “regular” public schools, church- or synagogue-based schools, and private schools. Services include: a family interview and assessment, a list of referrals to “best match” elementary schools on the Westside, a schedule of school tours, application forms and informational packages, and follow up even after you’ve applied. Our goal is to find you the best possible match – if we can save you money by finding the free public school of your dreams, so much the better.

Services Provided

• Family needs interview and assessment
• Research into appropriate placements, including charter, magnet and district public schools, and private schools
• Information on different educational approaches
• Customized school list, including tour and/or open house dates and required application fees
• Brochures and school materials
• Scheduling of all school tours and open houses
• Application deadline reminders
• Application process coordinated and completed by L.A. School Scout, with applications hand delivered or overnighted when necessary
• Tour/application status tracking grid, updated daily
• Help in the decision-making process, if there is more than one acceptance
• On-going support, until your child is accepted and enrolled in a school
• Reminders about required vaccinations, new student open house days, etc.
• Upon enrollment in a school, and upon application to L.A. School Scout, we will provide a free earthquake kit for each child, based on your school’s specifications.

Questions? Please call L.A. School Scout at 877.877.6240.

Schedule of Services

Navigating the bewildering variety of preschools and K-12 schools can be overwhelming. Coupled with the need for two hour blocks of time for each school tour, just making the time for this and keeping the names and philosophies straight becomes a very lonely and demanding task.

L.A. School Scout™ is your partner in this process, offering skilled professional assistance to help families find and choose a preschool that is a good match for your family’s expectations, and which will foster your child’s cognitive, creative, physical and social-emotional growth. Services include: a family interview and assessment, a list of referrals to “best match” preschools, a schedule of school tours, application forms and informational packages, and follow up even after your application is in.

• A one-hour phone conference, day or evening appointments available
• Review of L.A. School Scout questionnaire
• Review of school report card, IQ testing, IEP and/or educational assessment, if needed
• A general discussion of your school options
• Research into and discussion of appropriate placements and/or neighborhoods
• Consultation regarding your child’s current school situation, if needed
• Information on different educational approaches
• Customized school list, including documentation with an in-depth description of each school

• A 90-minute in-home family interview and needs assessment – we come to you!
• Review of L.A. School Scout questionnaire
• Review of school report card, IQ testing, IEP and/or educational assessment, if needed
• Review of one completed school application, if available prior to consultation
• Research into appropriate placements and/or neighborhoods
• Consultation regarding your child’s current school situation, if needed
• Information on different educational approaches
• Mediation of differing opinions regarding styles of education – possibly the best couples counseling around!
• Customized school list, including documentation with an in-depth description of each school

• In-home intake meeting with family, including review of L.A. School Scout’s Inquiry Questionnaire, overview of the process and developing a timeline.
• Review of all assessments, evaluations, IEPs, test scores and school records.
• A Kindergarten Readiness assessment upon request
• Classroom observation and consultation with teachers, support staff and therapists, service providers
• Customized list of best fit schools, including documentation with an in-depth description of each school, and
• Final meeting with family to discuss the list of recommended schools and outline next steps.

 All items in the school planning consultation above plus the following:

• A kindergarten readiness assessment, including a preschool observation, as needed
• School observation for grades K-12, as needed
• A customized list of schools, including documentation with an in-depth description of each school and tour and/or open house dates and application fee requirements
• Scheduling of all school tours and open houses
• Reviewing and suggesting revisions to application essays, as needed
• Tour, interview, assessment and application deadline reminders via email
• Personalized tour/application status tracking grid, updated weekly
• Interview preparation
• Consultation throughout the decision-making process
• On-going support throughout the school application process.

Relocation/Rush Placement.

Different relocation packages available, including working with realtor in selection of neighborhoods (your realtor or ours). This service was developed especially for those relocating to Los Angeles, or to a different neighborhood within Los Angeles, or for those who need an emergency mid-year placement, this service includes a phone consultation plus:

• Inquiries and applications on behalf of the family
• Application process coordinated by L.A. School Scout
• Out of area and/or rush placements upon request
• Process completed within 30 days

Your school search can be customized to meet your specific educational needs. Call with any questions – I want to help you find the best possible placement for your child.