 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter 6 - The Washington AreaFor many Foreign Service families, a move to Washington means making difficult choices. A new house may have to be found, a new job settled into, a new lifestyle may have to be determined. Choosing from among the wide array of options of appropriate day care for younger children or schools for the older ones can be a complex and time-consuming chore. Parents need to examine their own basic values, their child-rearing and educational philosophies, and each child's needs when making decisions that will affect their child's future. There are over 500 public schools and close to 350 independent schools in the Washington area. Parents must choose from among this array of school options the one which offers the best program for each child in the family. It would be overwhelming to try to consider every single option, but this is really not necessary. A novice to the Washington scene should study some maps, talk to friends and neighbors, assess the financial implications, visit neighborhoods, and look at possible schools. Families may also wish to consult the Family Liaison Office Education and Youth Officer after narrowing their options. Families returning to the Washington area from overseas can do some of this homework before they arrive using education information available in the Community Liaison Office or Personnel Office at post. The Washingtonian and the Washington newspapers, if available, are also good resources. Families can write to prospective school districts and area real estate agents for information. CHOOSING AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL For many parents, choosing the best schools for their children determines other life choices. Newcomers usually investigate the public school systems thoroughly before selecting an area in which to settle. Standardized test scores, and, for high schools, the number of National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists and the percentage of students continuing their education after high school are among the tools used to evaluate school districts and individual schools. At the high school level, programs of study offering Advanced Placements courses or the International Baccalaureate Program can also be an indication of demanding academics. Each school district determines its own curriculum, requirements, and special programs. However, individual schools within a district can differ because of variations in student bodies, individual principals and teachers, and parental involvement. Home environment, parents' expectations for their children, and parental involvement in schools also seem to contribute a great deal to a school's excellence. Neighborhoods with higher income levels and percentage of parents with college educations generally have schools with better test scores and a larger percentage of students going on to college. Real Estate agents are a source of information in this area. In comparing school districts and individual schools within each district, the following general questions should be asked:
Parents of elementary school children should ask other questions:
All Washington area high schools publish school profiles which describe enrollment, graduation requirements, grading system, curriculum, services available, and special courses offered. In general, all schools in a jurisdiction provide the same core curricular offerings, except alternative or magnet schools. Profiles can be requested from the individual school system. Information, including addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers, of the most commonly used jurisdictions can be found in the Family Liaison Office information on Washington Area Schools: Admission Requirements, Programs of Interest and Private Schools. Parents can use school profiles and interviews with principals or counselors to answer the following questions:
WASHINGTON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS Washington area public schools most used by Foreign Service families include the following: the District of Columbia; Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County in Maryland; Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and Stafford County in Virginia. Some families use schools as far out as Calvert County in Maryland and Fauquier County in Virginia. For more information, view the Family Liaison Office's information on Washington Area Schools: Admission Requirements, Programs of Interest and Private Schools. New information about The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests and the No Child Left Behind Act Many educational services and programs are available in the Washington area. Foreign Service families look for the following at public schools or specialized private schools: remedial tutoring; psychological services; programs for the physically, mentally, and emotionally handicapped; programs for highly gifted and learning-disabled students; English as a Second (or Foreign) Language programs; student employment services; extensive science and sport programs; and career and vocational counseling. Some schools have reading and math labs which enable students to work in specific skill areas when difficulties arise. These labs may also be geared for the talented student who needs the challenge of additional advanced study. Parents are usually encouraged to participate in academic programs, and, upon request, students and parents may receive individual counseling when problems arise. ATTENDING SCHOOL OUTSIDE ONE'S LEGAL RESIDENCE Each jurisdiction in the Washington area has regulations about children living in one jurisdiction and attending school in another. In most jurisdictions, children who do not reside within the boundaries of that jurisdiction must pay tuition. Foreign Service students temporarily living with friends or relatives while their parents are stationed overseas must pay out-of-county tuition in most districts. This is true even if the living arrangement is temporary as when a family is waiting to move into their permanent home. Parents may want to consider choosing temporary housing in the same jurisdiction that they plan to settle in permanently. Maryland counties handle each situation on a case-by-case basis and will often permit a child to attend classes if the parent can prove they are about to move permanently into the county. Fairfax County in Virginia, however, has strict guidelines and makes few exceptions. Contact the Office of Community Relations or Information of the school district for specific policies. Addresses and telephone numbers are listed later in this chapter. In the District of Columbia, parents who wish their children to attend a District school other than the school to which their neighborhood is assigned must apply each year between February and April. Transfer requests are accepted from October 1 to April 30 of the preceding school year and are generally awarded on a space-available basis. Several thousand transfer requests are processed by the D.C. school system each year, with justifications ranging from economic hardship or inconvenience to a desire for a child to take a particular class or program, or to be in a school with high test scores. Admission to Banneker High School and the Duke Ellington School of Arts is on a competitive basis. PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS All Washington area school systems require an original birth certificate for the child, inoculations for polio, DPT, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), a physical exam, proof of residence (house contract, lease agreement, or resident manager's letter), and documentation of previous educational program. Many also require a TB test, within the previous 30 days. Families may want to consider delaying medical clearance exams, which include the TB test, until arrival in the Washington area so that children do not have to repeat the test. The information contained in Washington Area Schools is intended to be used as a guideline. Because this type of information, especially telephone numbers and addresses, may change, you should contact the school system directly or contact the Family Liaison Office for the most recent information. District of Columbia
Northern Virginia Virginia law requires children to attend private or public school from age 5 to age 17. School performance report cards for Virginia's public schools are available on the Department of Education's web site at www.pen.k12.va.us or http://va-reportcards.vipnet.org/.
Maryland Maryland law requires children to attend private or public school from age 5 to 16.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS International Baccalaureate Programs in the Washington, DC Area Public Schools SELECTING AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Private schooling can offer advantages to the Foreign Service child. In many cases, the independent school more closely resembles the overseas school experience. Classes are usually smaller, children may receive more individual attention, and college-bound students are given more personalized counseling. Schools sponsored by religious organizations are often less costly than other independent schools, but their classes tend to be larger. Because there are close to 350 independent schools in the Washington area, finding the best possible match for a child's individual needs and goals requires time and patience. The Family Liaison Office Education and Youth Officer can provide information, initial counseling, and focus. Parents can then call or write the individual schools for more information. Private, independent education consultants in the Washington area provide comprehensive counseling, testing, and school placement. Parents should look for a consultant who is a member of the U.S.-wide Independent Education Consultants Association (IECA) or the Washington-based Association of Consultants and Counselors for Educational Services and Support (ACCESS). For additional guidance on selection of a consultant, contact the Family Liaison Office's Education and Youth Officer. Students interested in private schools should begin the application process early as the most competitive schools have February deadlines. Since many of the most selective schools require interviews, families abroad should consider scheduling interviews during home leave or R&R trips even before a formal application is made. Some private schools require the SSAT (see Chapter 3) while others accept the PSAT or have their own test for applicants. It is unwise to apply to only one school. Because of space limitations, many bright children are denied entrance to the more popular schools. Some Catholic schools give priority to families that are members of the parish. Applying to four or five schools should prevent disappointment. Resources
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT Parents in the United States need to be as involved in their children's school as they were while stationed overseas. The information on parent/teacher conferences, serving on school boards, and volunteering in the classroom (see Chapter 3) is relevant for all parents. ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS There are two alternative ways for older teens and adults to get an American high school diploma: the General Educational Development (GED) testing program and an external diploma program. For information on the external diploma program, see page 169. The GED testing program is for people who once were enrolled in school, but did not complete requirements for high school graduation. The GED provides certification of a high school diploma equivalent for employment or college admission purposes. Many U.S. school districts offer preparation classes for students planning to take the GED. The GED tests consist of a battery of five comprehensive examinations in writing skills, social studies, natural sciences, mathematics, and interpreting literature and arts. Emphasis is on intellectual ability rather than on detailed knowledge of content. The tests take approximately 1 day to complete. Each state has different eligibility requirements for residency and age. Usually one must be at least 18 years old, but in Maryland the age is 17. For information or to arrange to take the GED, contact the appropriate school system. Many GED preparation books and software programs are available in libraries and bookstores. A television series carried by both cable television and many public television stations in the United States provides a good general preparation for the test. The official GED practice tests (English, Spanish, large print, and audio visual versions) can be ordered from the publisher:
The GED tests may also be taken overseas. Test-takers must not be currently enrolled in school and must be at least 18 years old. A test administrator must be found who agrees to accept the responsibility for properly safeguarding, administering, and returning all restricted testing materials to the GED Testing Service. The administrator could be the cultural affairs officer, the principal of an American school, the director of a Ministry of Education, or a degreed instructor at a school or university. The administrator requests the test from the GED Test Center by submitting the appropriate fee which is paid by the testee(s). The test is sent to the examiner who administers it and returns the completed test to the GED Test Center for marking. If the GED is passed overseas, a diploma may be requested from either New Jersey or Iowa, the only two states that do not require residence. More information about taking the GED overseas can be obtained from the following address:
Information provided by the Family Liaison Office | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||
|
