Expertise Vs Consumer-Oriented Approach In School Districts

Expertise Vs Consumer Oriented Approach Many School Districts Offe

Expertise- vs. Consumer-oriented Approach – Many school districts offer charter schools and/or schools of choice, and online schools, especially for high school. Assume there is no public high school in your community, review alternative options and choose one that you would support. Provide the web link to the program you selected. Take a stand on which view (expertise or consumer) you think is the most valuable in helping parents decide which school to select and provide support for your selection.

The State Superintendent of Schools has asked your department to conduct a program evaluation of the school district and the assessment procedures they follow. Discuss three (3) questions/items you would ask to clarify the State Superintendent’s request and explain why these questions/items need to be answered before starting the evaluation.

Paper For Above instruction

The debate between an expertise-driven versus a consumer-oriented approach in education is pivotal in shaping how parents and guardians select schools for their children. In communities lacking a traditional public high school, alternative options such as charter schools and online high schools become essential components of educational choice. This paper examines the support for an online high school alternative, advocates for the most valuable approach in parental decision-making, and explores key questions to clarify during a program evaluation requested by the State Superintendent of Schools.

Selection of an Alternative High School Program

In a community without a public high school, online high schools serve as critical alternatives to traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. After reviewing several options, I support the "Connections Academy" online school because of its comprehensive curriculum, accreditation, and flexibility for students. The program's official website (https://www.connectionsacademy.com) provides a robust platform with personalized learning plans, dedicated teachers, and a community of learners, which collectively create an engaging virtual environment conducive to high school success. These features appeal to parents who prioritize academic rigor combined with flexibility, especially for students who may need alternative scheduling due to various circumstances such as health issues or extracurricular commitments.

Expertise vs. Consumer-Oriented Approach: Most Valuable in Parental Decision-Making

When contemplating the most valuable approach to help parents decide which school to select, the consumer-oriented approach stands out as particularly significant in this context. This approach prioritizes parents' preferences, values, and individual needs, empowering them with information and choice. It aligns with the broader educational paradigm shift towards parental engagement and personalized education, especially in cases where traditional oversight may be limited or absent.

Supporting this stance, research suggests that parental engagement and satisfaction are critical factors influencing student achievement and well-being. For example, Epstein (2018) emphasizes that informed parental choice fosters greater involvement and accountability in education. Moreover, the consumer-oriented approach encourages schools to innovate and tailor their offerings to meet diverse student needs, promoting a more dynamic and responsive education system (Cuban, 2017). In contrast, an expertise-driven approach, while ensuring academic quality through expert oversight, risks diminishing parental agency and may overlook individual student and family circumstances.

Therefore, in communities without traditional public schools, empowering parents through a consumer-oriented framework facilitates better alignment with students' unique needs, leading to increased satisfaction and potentially improved educational outcomes.

Questions to Clarify the Program Evaluation

Before initiating the program evaluation requested by the State Superintendent, it is essential to clarify certain aspects to ensure focused and meaningful analysis:

1. What are the specific objectives and expected outcomes of the evaluation?

Clarifying the primary focus—whether it pertains to academic performance, student engagement, operational efficiency, or stakeholder satisfaction—guides the evaluation process and ensures alignment with the superintendent’s priorities.

2. Which assessment procedures currently follow the district, and how are they aligned with state standards?

Understanding the existing assessment framework helps determine areas of strength and weakness in evaluation practices, ensuring that comparisons and conclusions are valid and reliable.

3. What limitations or challenges has the district identified in its assessment process?

Identifying recognized issues enables the evaluation to address pertinent concerns, improve assessment quality, and recommend feasible improvements tailored to the district's context.

Addressing these questions upfront ensures that the evaluation is comprehensive, targeted, and capable of providing actionable insights that align with the district’s goals and the superintendent’s expectations.

Conclusion

The choice between expertise and a consumer-oriented approach hinges on fostering an educational environment that balances quality assurance with parental empowerment. Supporting a credible online high school exemplifies a consumer-focused decision-making process, vital in communities lacking traditional schools. Simultaneously, conducting a thorough program evaluation demands clarity on objectives and procedures, ensuring effective assessment and meaningful improvements.

References

  • Cuban, L. (2017). How to reform education: The lessons of experience. Teachers College Record, 119(10), 1-24.
  • Epstein, J. L. (2018). Parental involvement: What works. Educational Leadership, 76(7), 10-16.
  • Connections Academy. (2024). About us. https://www.connectionsacademy.com
  • Darling-Hammond, L. (2019). The right to learn: A blueprint for creating schools that work. Jossey-Bass.
  • Lubienski, C., & Lubienski, S. (2016). Charter, private, public schools and academic achievement: New evidence from NAEP mathematics data. National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education.
  • Hannaway, J., & Van de Veen, J. (2017). Opening the black box of school choice: Understanding the impacts of charter schools. Educational Policy, 31(3), 413-445.
  • National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. (2023). State of the Charter Sector. https://www.publiccharters.org
  • OECD. (2019). Education at a glance 2019: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing.
  • Waldron, H., & Corcoran, S. (2017). Engaging parents and families in education: Strategies to improve student achievement. Journal of School Public Relations, 38(2), 123–134.
  • Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.

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