This month, February, is the month when you can make choices about your children’s future in Federal Way Schools. There are some good choices that can be made.

Remember, “That you can get an excellent education in the Federal Way School District!” Please note that I did not say, “You will get an excellent education in the Federal Way School District!” There is a difference and I don’t think that too many, who have not made some choices, are likely to be getting “An excellent education in the Federal Way Schools.”

This week we learned that Microsoft now can only find 1% of its new hires in this state, down from 8% and that Washington is 2nd in the nation in engineering jobs available and 2nd from the last in engineer graduates from colleges.

Evidently many students are following the path suggested by the President of the University of Washington who suggested that most kids in this state are “Preparing to be washing the cars of the educated!”

Choices are, in my mind, very important.

What are these choices?

If you have a child who is in the 5th grade there are some very important options as Middle Schools, in this state and nationally, seem to be a place where achievement for a very significant population of children actually declines!

If I had a child in the 5th grade I would therefore be giving some real deliberations to the following:

1. We have two K-8 schools in the district. Here much of the distractions of a middle school are under control.

2. You can apply to the Public Academy where the achievement records of the past 11 years have pretty well shown that this age doesn’t have to be a bad experience.

3. You can have your child join the Cambridge Program at either Lakota or Sacajawea Middle Schools. This is a serious program leading to the high school Cambridge Program. Probably the best respected high school certificate in the world.

4. You can have your child enroll in the Technology Access Foundation Academy (TAFA) if your child has an interest in being immersed in the latest skills in technology.

I hope I haven’t missed any great options. The school district has a complete list of these choices and I urge you to become familiar with all choices before the deadline of February 28th. Please don’t default on your child’s education.

At the High School level there are several more choices.

1. There are usually a few openings at the Federal Way Public Academy and many students who transfer to the Academy in the 9th grade do quite well. These children are then in an excellent position to take advantage of the International Baccalaureate Program that is offered in the 11th and 12th grade at Thomas Jefferson High School.

2. Federal Way High School has the Cambridge Program. The academic results here have been outstanding over the past 3 years. If you are concerned about your child’s academic success, I believe you need to be very serious about this program. There aren’t a lot of good excuses for not being in this program if academic success is a priority.

3. If you have a child with a mechanical bent there are two options that are both excellent.

a. Aviation High School. Considered by most educators to be the epitome of excellence in this state by most academic measurements.

b. The NATEF program at either Decatur or Federal Way High School that will certify your student as an Auto Technician.

4. If your child has an interest in Construction there is a Carpentry Apprentice Program at Thomas Jefferson.

5. The Technology Access Foundation Academy, previously mentioned is also an excellent option for those who believe that “Technology” is the future.

These and a few others that I haven’t mentioned are all choices that lead to distinguished accomplishments in high school.

If you aren’t making choices about your children’s future the outlook may be bleak. Washington State is now 43rd in the nation in high school completion. I doubt that many children who are in the programs mentioned here are part of this problem.

Kids, left to their own choices will go to the schools that their friends go to. Decision making by either 11 year olds (middle school years) or by 14 year olds (high school years) are riskier than giving your child your checkbook.

Please give this some serious consideration.