By Andrew Campanella, Visitor columnist
Each youngster in Colorado deserves the chance to achieve their fullest potential in life.
That’s why one in 5 dad and mom final 12 months enrolled at the very least considered one of their youngsters in a brand new Okay–12 faculty. The truth is, the method of mothers and dads actively selecting how and the place their youngsters be taught — also known as faculty alternative — reached a five-year excessive in 2025.
In the meantime, greater than 60% of fogeys say they’re more likely to think about a brand new faculty for at the very least considered one of their youngsters in 2026 — suggesting one other lively 12 months for households making enrollment choices. What meaning for your loved ones relies upon, largely, on the place you reside.
In Colorado, dad and mom have extra schooling choices than they could understand. Along with assigned conventional public colleges, the Centennial State has taken steps in recent times to present households extra flexibility in selecting colleges.
The state permits dad and mom to ship their youngsters to conventional public colleges outdoors of their zones and districts, if seats can be found. Different tuition-free public education choices embrace constitution colleges (that are broadly out there), theme-based magnet colleges (out there in a number of districts), and full-time on-line colleges.
Mother and father may think about non-public colleges, which cost tuition and typically provide scholarships to assist make non-public schooling extra reasonably priced. Starting in 2027, a brand new program referred to as the federal tax credit score scholarship might present extra tuition help alternatives for Colorado households, as Governor Polis has indicated that the state will decide in to this system. Lastly, Colorado mothers and dads have the liberty to coach their youngsters at residence, and a few households pair homeschooling with microschools or different small-group studying environments.
If you wish to discover these schooling choices upfront of the 2026–27 faculty 12 months, the time to start that course of is now. Nationwide Faculty Alternative Week begins Jan. 25, with 677 faculty occasions throughout Colorado, together with faculty festivals, open homes, mother or father nights, and knowledge periods.
Earlier than beginning your search, it will possibly assist to pause and write down your objectives on your youngster and what you need in a really perfect studying setting. Doing so helps middle the method on what — and who — actually issues: your daughter or your son. When potential, go to colleges and schedule excursions or conferences with employees. Analysis exhibits that folks who go to colleges in individual are twice as more likely to enroll their youngsters in a brand new faculty as dad and mom who search with out touring or visiting.
Throughout these visits, ask questions. One of the frequent errors dad and mom make is accepting schooling jargon — of which there’s a lot — at face worth. If you don’t perceive a time period, a reference to curriculum or tutorial strategies, or a college coverage, ask for clarification till you do. You might also wish to discuss with different dad and mom about their experiences, whereas holding in thoughts that their views are formed by their very own youngster’s distinctive wants.
And bear in mind: you realize your youngster higher than anybody else. With regards to your youngster’s well-being, you’re the knowledgeable. Discovering the appropriate faculty will not be about selecting what works for everybody— it’s about selecting what matches your daughter or son greatest.
To entry a free information to Okay–12 faculty alternative choices in Colorado, go to https://myschoolchoice.com/colorado.
Andrew Campanella is the CEO of the Nationwide Faculty Alternative Consciousness Basis, the nonprofit group that coordinates Nationwide Faculty Alternative Week, Navigate Faculty Alternative, and Conoce tus Opciones Escolares. He’s additionally the writer of The Faculty Alternative Roadmap: 7 Steps to Selecting the Proper Faculty for Your Little one.
