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In the past, educational options for children were not as highly deliberated by parents as they are now. Rather, parents tended to follow family traditions and the choices made by their peers. For example, the majority of students at the all-girl's private school I attended were the second or third generation in their family to attend this school or had parents who were friends with parents of other students.

Today, fewer parents are willing to blindly follow tradition; they are seeking out educational alternatives, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each, and making well-deliberated decisions about where to send their children to school. With increased interest, we have increased choices, making this process more difficult that it would initially appear.

It also seems many parents have become disenchanted with the public school system, particularly in the United States. Some people claim that public school teachers are not dedicated to education anymore. Others assert that public schools are too lenient and do not teach discipline or responsibility. There are some people whom declare that public schools do not have the funding to provide children what they need to receive a good education. Another concern is that students graduating from public high schools do not appear ready to compete in the global economy. There are perceptions of public schools as havens for sex and drugs.

Probably the biggest worry of parents, though, is that public schools are too dangerous. Media coverage of school violence has instilled fear into the hearts of the masses, despite the fact that school shootings are statistically rare. Many parents still feel they are putting their children in harms way by sending them to public schools.

As a result of growing concerns about public schools, parents are researching the following alternatives: charter schools, magnet schools, private schools (both religious or nonsectarian), military academies, boarding schools, homeschooling, and Internet private schools. This guide outlines the basics of each of these alternatives to public school, assisting parents in making informed decisions about their children's education.

ALTERNATIVE ONE: CHARTER SCHOOLS

One alternative to public schools is charter schools, typically "for-profit," facilities contracted by the local school board and state superintendent of public instruction. They are a no-cost alternative to public schools. The first charter school opened in Minnesota in 1992. Currently, about 750,000

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