Finding a school or program for your child can be a very stressful process. However, there are lots of resources out there, and many parents who have been on this journey are willing to help. This article offers an overview of the types of schools, programs, and options available to gifted children including charter, magnet, gifted, and online or…

Meeting the needs of gifted students is challenging even in traditional contexts and settings. Well-known issues include a limited choice of schools, underrepresentation of certain populations, and, often, the lack of facilities and support for high-ability students. Imagine, then, the further complexities of high-ability Third Culture Kids (TCKs)…

The array of choices for early education can be overwhelming. Learning about the more prevalent approaches and their unique philosophies can help parents select a program that works for their precocious children. Some of these approaches include childcare/daycare, early entrance, Head Start, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf. The National…

Few things strike fear in the hearts of parents like sending their child off to middle school. Parents of gifted learners fear for their child's safety--both emotional and physical--and their academic well-being. Having survived this transition, it occurred to the author that this experience would make an interesting research project and,…

Divorce is often a contentious process with multiple issues to decide, especially in cases in which there are children involved. Divorce raises several legal issues when considering the well-being of children, including those who are gifted. In this article, the authors discuss these issues which include school choice, child support, and custody…

Every family wants to ensure a positive preschool foundation in order to build interest and success in the coming school years. Beyond an intuitive hunch, however, many families may not know exactly what to look for as they begin the search for a preschool. In response to both the perplexing nature and the significance of the task at hand, this…

With the increase in the numbers of diagnosed children on the autism spectrum, schools are being challenged to provide proper educational services for these children. In Educating Children with Autism, the National Research Council recommended that educational programs for students with autism include three basic components. These are direct…

Presents topics for parents to consider when selecting and evaluating a preschool program, including: teacher qualifications, licensing and accreditation, environment, physical activity, safety and security, social atmosphere, planning and goals, parent involvement, discipline, intellectual development, and program and class size. Two sidebars…

The article examines reasons to send young children to preschool or keep them home, discussing populations that are unable to send their children at all. It notes characteristics of a good preschool, lists things to look for, and suggests selection criteria. (SM)

A planned search/selection process can help locate the best possible learning situation for a child needing early intervention services. Parents are offered a detailed checklist for evaluating programs, and are encouraged to consider goals for the coming years, to make site visits to potential programs, and to ask questions. (JDD)

Using the pooled 1998-2000 GSS data, this study examines what kinds of parents tend to select non-public schools for their children, a question that is fundamental but lacks direct, adequate answers in the literature. The results of logistic regression analysis show that religion, socio-economic status, age, nativity, number of children and region…

Good school helps children recognize their worth as individual human beings. Schools' most important responsibility is to affirm children. African-American and other parents are advised to experience school before choosing it. Is diversity celebrated? Are friendliness and racial diversity present among professional staff? Do African-American and…

These handouts describe: Respecting Differences to Find Common Ground (a PTA program to provide parents with ideas and resources for talking to their children about respecting diversity); tips for parents on helping their children understand and respect differences; and the Our Children Newsletter, which contains excerpts from the March 2002 Our…

This article offers guidelines on locating the most appropriate educational program for gifted students. It recommends first a thorough assessment of the student's abilities and then presents a checklist which considers program admission standards, philosophy, teachers, instructional methods, curriculum, and other factors. (JDD)

Parents considering placing a disabled child in a residential facility should evaluate and choose a school by visiting at both "peak" and "off-peak" hours to learn about the physical surroundings, structured activities, the child-care staff, the teaching staff, the administration, and treatment plans. (CB)