Parents sharing the process of searching for a school in Greater Philadelphia. What kind of school are you looking for? Charter, public, private, city, suburban?
It bothers me when folks complain about a problem without offering a solution, or at least a direction for a solution. Last month, I was guilty. I wrote "School Choice in Philadelphia is a Myth" Well, how could we turn the myth into reality? 
This was such a long and drawn out process. We loved many of the schools we visited and applied to. 
Some financial incentives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are encouraging the city, charter schools, and PSD to work together 
My son is doing fantastic. He is well above his grade level in math and reading, but far from bored and really exploring things and issues I never thought about in kindergarten! 
I've heard the anecdotes left and right, including a few first hand accounts. In my optimistic outlook on this process, I assumed that this didn't happen often. Well, boom goes the dynamite! 
Now there is yet another reason to ignore test scores when making your school choice. In many cases they might be fabricated. ![Choosing Sides on Charters [Audio]](http://phillyschoolsearch.com/wp-content/uploads/et_temp/32666f3d34p18s9-89395_200x200.jpg)
I have learned that for many of my readers, policy is an important factor in school choice. It makes sense--if you do not support the charter movement, sending your child to a charter isn't exactly consistent behavior. The problem for most of you who are like me is that there are not a lot of impartial resources out there to help you form an intelligent opinion. 
With so many people vying for spots in the same trendy public and charter schools, it is worth considering some schools that might not be on your radar. 
Len Lipkin
PSS Community