Letter: Quality educational options can benefit Clark County

Dr. Jason Tindol shares that a significant contributor to living in a great area is being able to choose excellent educational options for kids

Quality educational options benefit Clark County! Approximately 30% of households, just under 100,000 students, in Clark County attend school. Schooling options include public, private, home school, and alternative education.

Additionally, Clark County is the second fastest-growing county in Washington. The Pacific Northwest’s Clark County, Washington, attracts people nationwide. The growth can be attributed to its proximity to metro cities like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Or it may just be the great coffee!

Whatever the draw, quality educational options can benefit Clark County! A significant contributor to living in a great area is being able to choose excellent educational options for kids. If we are to ask the question, “What is best for students in school?” then a vital precursor question is, “Which educational path is best for my children?” Parents are attracted to options for their child’s education. One size never fits all.

How does Clark County benefit from a variety of educational options for children? Stable companies can attract and retain talented employees who may have families. Have you ever decided to move and considered the education your children will receive? It may not be at the top of your list, but my guess is that it is on the list of priorities and closer to the top than the bottom.

Educational options also provide a variety of paths that complement workforce development. Clark County includes robust business sectors in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Private, home school, and alternative education can provide children with attributes different from public education that parents appreciate and desire. They are not necessarily looking for something “better,” but they are looking for something different. Those differences in private, home school, and alternative education decisions provide more opportunities and variety in Clark County. Approximately 10% of the students in Clark County choose an educational option outside of the public school system.

Families choose schooling for their children for a variety of reasons. Having access to public, faith-based, classical, traditional, innovative, or specialized education makes educational options in Clark County attractive! Whether a family desires the IB program at Columbia River, the new(er) beautiful campuses in Ridgefield, a faith-based K-12 school like King’s Way Christian Schools, or homeschooling at Firmly Planted Resource Center, parents enjoy choosing viable options for their children’s education in Clark County. Educational choices provide the opportunities to tailor educational options to match the learning styles of students and family interests, which appropriately leads to higher student engagement and family satisfaction with their children’s education.

When pondering access to quality education options in Clark County, the advantages cannot be ignored. More quality educational options in Clark County have benefitted our families!

Dr. Jason Tindol, superintendent
King’s Way Christian Schools