New Web App can Help Parents find Schooling Options | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Kari Travis, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

    RALEIGH     North Carolina families should have an easier time finding K-12 education options thanks to a new web application launched by Parents for Education Freedom in North Carolina, an organization that supports expansion of school choice across the state.

    The PEFNC database, "NC Schools Around Me," is a digital hub where families can access information about school choice options available in surrounding areas. More than 35,000 North Carolinians have used the app to research education choices for their kids, according to a Nov. 22 statement from PEFNC.

    PEFNC has collected information about 2,445 traditional public schools, 167 public charter schools, and 431 of the more than 700 private schools that accept state-funded Opportunity Scholarships and participate in the Children with Disability Scholarship Program. The database also gives parents access to "report card grades" that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction awards to traditional and public charter schools.

    "In light of the significant growth of school choice in our state, it is critical for families in North Carolina to have a way to properly navigate these array of options so that they make the best decision for their children educationally," said Darrell Allison, president of PEFNC.

    "Whether it is the traditional public school, or perhaps another option like a public charter or private school, a key component to a successful education for our children starts with involved parents," Allison continued. "Our web app makes it easy for families in North Carolina to not only locate the schools in their neighborhood but to learn more about effectiveness and/or a particular educational approach. Thus, we believe the better educated the parent, the better the educational experience for their child."

    Beginning in 2017, PEFNC will conduct a statewide promotional tour introducing its app.

    Click here to learn more about PEFNC and its other efforts to help North Carolina families.