Ready or not,

now is the time for families to be researching their children's education

options for fall

Christmas is

past and the children are back in school. Some families may have discovered,

with time for reflection during the holidays, that their children's current

school no longer fulfills the family's needs and goals.

Perhaps parents

are looking for smaller class sizes and more individualized attention

for their students. Maybe they would prefer a preparatory-type private

school, where nearly 100 percent of students enter college after graduation.

Some families are looking for more input into what subjects their children

learn and when.

Ready or not,

now is the time for families to be researching their children's education

options for next fall. Private Christian schools in the area are already

re-enrolling their current students and planning January and February

open houses for prospective families.

Parents who

are considering private school for their children should begin the process

now. Most schools have a limited number of available spaces each year

(some, like Montessori Counterpane in Fayetteville, may already be full).

The sooner families get the ball rolling, the better.

Here's how

the process typically flows.

First, parents

should contact the school that interests them and request an application

information packet. They should also schedule a tour of the school or

attend an open house. Most schools begin their tours and open houses in

January for the following fall term.

At an open

house, parents can expect one-on-one interaction with teachers, a chance

to meet current students and parents and get their perspective, according

to Susanne Seitz, director of admissions and financial aid for The Heritage

School in Sharpsburg. Often there are refreshments, multimedia presentations

and even student speakers or performances. Parents will be able to tour

the campus, and learn about the school's academics, athletics, extracurricular

activities, clubs and other special programs. The important thing is to

ask lots of questions.

"Whatever

the prospective parent puts into it, that's what they get out of it,"

Seitz said of the open house experience. Plan on it taking about two hours.

She also noted, "As a parent, I would want to know what percentage

of their graduates go on to college, and what their college counseling

process consists of.

"A great

question for parents to ask is, 'What is a typical day of school like

in x grade?'" she added. Ask about class size and overall enrollment.

What foreign languages are taught?

"One of

the biggest things you hear these days is character development,"

Seitz said. "'Tell me what you do to instill character and values

in your students?' I do get that question quite a bit."

Some families

may not think that they can afford a private school. Don't automatically

disregard it as an option, though, encourage admissions counselors. Talk

to the admission officers about tuition assistance programs.

"A lot

of families say there's no way," Seitz said. But go ahead and tell

them your particular situation, she urged.

Funds are often

available from the school to help families in need of tuition assistance.

Financial aid is need-based and may be applied for by completing a financial

aid application, which may usually be obtained by contacting the school's

business office. The application for admissions and application for financial

aid are separate processes.

Once a family

has narrowed the field of potential schools, the next step is to complete

the application.

There is typically

a small registration fee, and several forms will likely be required (varies

report cards, and possibly discipline records; birth certificate and Georgia

certificate of immunization; and written letters of recommendation from

the pastor of the church the child attends, teachers and possibly guidance

counselors at the current school.

Kathy Taussig,

the admissions director at Landmark Christian School, indicated that the

pastor recommendations and family participation in church life are especially

important aspects of Landmark's admission's process. Landmark is interested

in knowing what the student and parents are looking for when they apply.

Taussig commented

that Landmark is not looking for students who are running from anything

in the public school system. Rather, they are looking for students who

are running to Christian education. They are specifically interested in

Christian families who want to partner with the school in preparing students

to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

Once the completed

application is received by the school, students are scheduled to take

standardized entrance tests administered by the school.

Test dates

are usually set in February, March and April. At some schools, like Landmark

Christian, pre-Kindergarten candidates are asked to visit the school and

spend the day so the teacher can know more about the student's pattern

of emotional academic, and social development. At Mt. Zion, on the other

hand, parents or guardians of pre-K candidates are asked to complete a

checklist of entrance requirements for the purpose of proper grade placement.

Interviews

are granted to applicants whose qualifications meet the school's admission

standards. After the interview is completed, the applicant's file is reviewed

every week during March, April, and May to consider those candidates who

have completed the full admissions process.

The process

itself, because of the paper flow, can take from four to six weeks. Each

applicant is notified concerning status of acceptance, and some students

may end up on a waiting list.

Once the application

is approved and any financial aid paperwork is completed, an annual enrollment

contract is signed by the financially responsible parties and by the school.

Then, depending

on the school's dress code, it may be off to the uniform store for back-to-school

shopping. That may be tough to think about while shivering in January;

but, if you hope to enroll a student in private school this fall, now

is the time to make those initial calls and check out school Web sites.