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SALT LAKE CITY -- As school gets back in session this month, some parents are driving in different directions -- even miles out of their way -- to send their children to different schools.
It's about school choice and it's only getting more popular.
Third-grader Jensen Coombs counts out his green and black polos and khaki pants he needs for Endeavor Hall Elementary. It's a new charter school in West Valley. His dad drives him there from their home in West Jordan.
"I especially like the art programs. My dad and I just like to talk," he said.
It's one-on-one time, because his little sister is attending a private preschool and his older brother is at their neighborhood Jordan district school. Their mom, Nichole Coombs, explains why they do it.
"There are some great options. Why not give them the opportunity to do well with their gifts?" she said.
Nichole says so many other parents are doing the same thing. Her Cub Scout troop of 12 attended six different schools among them.
- Charter schools -- 75
- Students in charter schools -- 40,132
- District schools -- 801
- Students in district schools -- 536,113
- Private schools -- 124
- Students in private schools -- 19,452
- Home schooled students -- 8,154
"I had a couple public, a couple charter, one at home and one online," she said.
The issue of school choice doesn't even mean public school or something else. More public schools have choices within their own walls. More districts are offering online high schools. There's the extended learning program in elementary school and up, AP or IB classes, and open classrooms.
Gregg Roberts, the world language specialist with the state office of education, recently talked about increasing dual-immersion language programs Utah.
"Our goal by 2014 is to have over 100 programs benefiting 30,000 students in Utah. We really want to make this about choice for parents, so parents have choice in education. They can chose monolingual, or a dual-immersion program offering something for their student in a school near them. We offer Spanish, Chinese or French, so it is about choice."
While Jensen likes the art classes at his charter school, his older brother is looking forward to the larger programs in his district junior high school. Other parents love the flexibility of home schooling and online schooling. Whatever the reasons, Nichole says it's about looking outside of the box.
"It's giving kids what they need so we know we didn't shortchange them," she said.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
