Education Magazine

Excellence In Education Lincoln Daily News January 25, 2023 Page 9 Some magnet schools may give siblings of current students preferential enrollment status. Supporters of magnet schools say that they help children attend schools outside of where they live, thereby helping desegregate public education. But that’s not the only positive thing about magnet schools. Supporters also appreciate the specialized programs and consistent themes or methods of teaching. The offer of a choice in education is seen as a primary advantage as well. This increased competition, in theory, supports public schools as well, who would seek to improve their academic programs in order to keep students in their schools. Critics say that magnet schools actually hurt neighboring public schools by taking away their brightest students, leaving public schools at an academic disadvantage. Low- income, non-native English-speaking students and students with special needs are often underrepresented in magnet schools, despite magnet schools having greater reach beyond a district’s borders. The selective admission criteria can also be too much of a hurdle for students with failing grades or records of bad behavior or truancy problems, none of which are necessarily indicative of academic success. Finally, much like with charter schools, magnet schools are accused of drawing resources from public school programs and the awarding of extra funding can be seen as unfair. Understanding these options can help parents choose the school that’s most appropriate for their children. After all, each child’s personality, strengths, and interests can influence how they learn, and vice versa. Charter and magnet schools are options, and they come with their own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing a school is not an easy decision, which is what National School Choice Week aims to help with. [Derek Hurley] Sources: “National School Choice Week,” https:// schoolchoiceweek.com/states/illinois/151897 “Illinois School Choice Roadmap,” https:// schoolchoiceweek.com/guide-school-choice- illinois/ “What is a Magnet School?” https://www. publicschoolreview.com/blog/what-is-a- magnet-school