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Susan Wood ReportingIf you have a child in school, you probably can find out online how well they're doing on their assignments. Now you can also track how well the entire student body is doing compared to other schools.
The Internet is helping parents keep a watchful eye on our school children. The state Office of Education is now posting overall performance scores, attendance records and teacher-student ratios in one central location online.
Mark Peterson, State Office of Education: "You can find out what kind of teachers are there and how qualified they are. You can find out how big the school is, and learn more about its demographics."
Take for example, a charter school in Salt Lake where, according to the website, there are 206 students, eleven teachers, and one counselor. Here 75 percent of the teachers have a degree or an endorsement, and 96 percent of the kids come to class each day.
Marc Witkin, Student: "That way they can look how my school's doing compared to other schools. It might bring more students into my school."
But it may also cause parents to avoid the school in their area and opt instead for another school across town -- a school with better test scores or a better ratio between students and teachers.
Mark Peterson: "It’s part of parental choice and always has been with open enrollment."
The Office of Education isn't too concerned about the web site being used as a way for parents to shop for the right school. They say there are other factors parents take into account, like how far away the school is from home. They're hoping the web site gives them easy access to important details to improve their child's overall education.
The site went online this week and it will be updated every year in October.
