Picking the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you make regarding their development. However, if you’re like a lot of parents, you may feel overwhelmed by the range of options available.
Nakisha Hobbs, CEO & Co-Founder of It Takes a Village Family of Schools (ITAV), offers some advice for parents who want to find a school that truly meets their values. ITAV is a network of independent schools and programs in Chicago, providing Hobbs with an invaluable perspective on the issue.
With independent schools, it’s easier to find a school that meets your family’s values
The biggest difference between independent and charter schools is funding. While charter schools receive public funding, independent schools are tuition or fee-based.
As per the Illinois State Board of Education, charter schools are subject to the state accountability system like any other public school. What this means for parents is that charter schools are more limited in their approaches to education, with less flexibility in curriculum choices, program choices and even larger class sizes due to per-pupil funding.
A common misconception is that independent or private schools are prohibitively expensive. But with financial aid, they can be quite accessible.
“We have students in our school, Village Leadership Academy (VLA), who actually don’t pay tuition at all because they have full scholarships and we have students that pay half or 25% of the overall tuition cost,” says Hobbs.
At the school’s inception, Hobbs and the other co-founders decided not to become a charter school to maintain the school’s independence and avoid any strings attached to funding.
“We knew right out of the gate that we wanted to be a social justice elementary school,” says Hobbs. “We also knew that we wanted to cover content that public schools might not be authorized to cover.”
From the beginning, a core part of Hobbs’ vision for ITAV has always been exploring the voices of people who are not typically centered in history.
“In a charter school, you’re not going to get history from a non-dominant perspective. You’re going to have to follow the script of the state of Illinois in terms of what they say young people should be studying.”
Prioritizing and centering children’s mental health
Every parent thinks about their child’s physical safety — but emotional safety is just as important in a school environment. This includes thinking about how the history and perspectives taught in a school are inextricably linked to the mental security a child feels in that environment.
“As parents are exploring options for their children, it’s important to make sure that their children are going to be in environments that really affirm and center them as individuals and as learners,” says Hobbs. “Is there an opportunity for their child to not only learn but also to express their full humanity within the school or the learning environment?”
At ITAV, mental health is a top priority for the student experience. In fact, they offer every student access to one-on-one counseling with certified mental health specialists.
Looking at the relationships between schools, parents, and communities
Oftentimes, parents make the mistake of looking at schools as an environment distinct from their communities and families. But Hobbs emphasizes that these three elements of a child’s development are more closely intertwined than we realize.
“I do really strongly believe that as a parent, when you are looking for a school, you want to really look for a school that is going to be an extension of your family and also an extension of your community,” she says.
One thing many people don’t realize about independent schools is that parents truly drive the curriculum in a way that’s not possible at charter or public schools.
“I think the other thing that parents should be thinking about is the role that parents play in schools,” says Hobbs. “Will your voice as a parent matter at the school that you are going to be enrolling your child in?”
ITAV brings a radical new approach to education
Even beyond smaller class sizes and a focus on non-dominant perspectives in the curriculum, ITAV truly offers a unique educational approach. This includes students engaging in activism from just 5 years old.
“Our students identify an issue in their community that they actually want to do something about and they develop year-long, sometimes multi-year campaigns to really address those issues,” says Hobbs. ITAV students go on to develop grassroots campaigns, meet with elected officials, and even develop policy – all while getting hands-on leadership experience in their community.
Students also begin studying world history in third grade. Since 2010, the school’s World Scholars Program has provided an opportunity to study one international community of focus. This culminates in a trip to that community, with prior student trips visiting countries such as Brazil, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With three early learning centers and three more centers opening this spring, one independent elementary school in the South Loop, and another opening this fall in the Bronzeville community, it’s clear that demand is only growing for ITAV’s schooling.
“Our whole purpose and goal is really to nurture the future leaders of the city of Chicago, of our nation and of our world,” says Hobbs.
Learn more about ITAV’s unique approach to education on the ITAV website.
