In 1998 I wrote my dissertation on the clearly established benefits of school choice. That was also the year that Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (my other employer) began enabling parents to turn tax credit money into scholarships for their children to attend Christian schools. Since then, ASCTO has awarded scholarships to over 18,000 students attending 150 Christian schools in the state of Arizona. While that number is impressive, I am frankly surprised that it isn't even higher.
In the intervening years, the reports about public schools have not improved significantly, but the quality of the once-struggling Christian schools clearly improves every year. A small example from a school we all know about is Pusch Ridge, the school that graciously allows our church to use their facility. When Catalina Foothills Church took over a struggling and academically undistinguished Christian school and renamed it Pusch Ridge, it took five years before a graduating class had just one National Merit scholar in its ranks (these students test in the top one per cent in the U.S). Now there are routinely two or three in each graduating class, classes of only fifty to sixty per year. Less than half the public schools in Tucson, schools five to ten times larger than Pusch Ridge, have even one National Merit scholar per year.
Pusch Ridge didn't achieve better academic status just by charging tuition and only enrolling students from economically advantaged homes (a popular myth), or by wishful thinking, either. The school has worked hard to improve its academic effectiveness. So do Desert Christian and all the other Christian schools in our city.
This is just one evidence that when parents make intentional and informed choices about their child's education, good things can happen. But I said that this blog would be about Veritas Academy of Tucson, Tucson's first university model school. Here the parents not only have to choose to pay tuition for private education, many aided by those tax credit scholarships mentioned above, but they also have to share much of the teaching load as well. Students attend classes at the school (which meets at Sabino Road Baptist Church) two days a week, much as they would when taking university classes. Then, following the lesson plans on the school website, students study at home with their parents the other three days per week.
I knew this model of schooling would be good, but one semester into it, I have to say that it is even better than I imagined. Students do not get tired of being at school - or of being at home, either. They enjoy the benefits of having companions to play with on the playground two days a week, and lots of quiet, self-paced study time at home. Most are able to accomplish the requirements in this rigorous classical curriculum in just four days a week, leaving more discretionary time than they would normally have. Through the school they enjoy field trips, academic competitions, and many other benefits which are often difficult for homeschoolers to manage on their own.
Best of all, parents and teachers are clearly working as partners. There is no adversarial relationship ("Why aren't you making my child perfect with all the tuition I'm paying you?"), because we all know the child equally well, and understand his or her weaknesses and strengths. Our meetings are not about blame, but about problem-solving.
I still advocate the maximum amount of parental choice possible in a child's education, and for many families that will be homeschooling, or an established private school. But the blend of responsible parenting and educational expertise available in this model is breath-takingly effective, and one of the things for which I am truly thankful this holiday season.
tom it's Peter. We need to get together and discuss my future. Also I would like to learn more about Veritas Academy. Your blog has peaked my interest.
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