Election Year, Economics Elevate Education as Issue with Kansas City Area Parents
by Metro Voice News
February 16, 2004
(AgapePress) - Even as the economy and the war on terrorism dominate the news in this election year, many parents have a different issue on their minds -- the education of their children."The economic situations of tuition-paying families has been reflected in many schools losing enrollment," said Dr. Derek Keenan, vice president of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in Colorado Springs. "We represent 5,600 schools, and our membership is up about 2 percent in the number of schools.
"But somewhere between 110 and 120 schools closed in the past year. A good percentage of those were economic decisions, and a number of those schools merged with other schools or school systems. But at least half of those ceased operations, most for economic reasons," Keenan says.
The economy will be one of many issues discussed at the Sixth Annual Midwest Christian Education and College Expo, which will be held on Saturday, March 6, at Colonial Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Coordinator Anita Widaman says the Expo is a one-stop shopping situation for parents in that it brings different levels of education together and offers answers and solutions to parents and students considering private, faith-based education.
"I think parents really are concerned about the investment in elementary, high schools and college," states Widaman, who served as a public middle school and high school guidance counselor for 17 years. "They want to make sure they get the most value for their investment, and this Expo and its workshops will help them learn how."
The Expo, which regularly draws several thousand area parents and children, will feature more than 30 K-through-12 schools and approximately 40 Christian colleges from ten states. Home-schooling organizations from both Missouri and Kansas will have booths, as will providers of books, curricula, and software services.
"This is a great way to learn about the diversity of Christian education," Widaman adds.
Widaman says an important and popular aspect of the Expo are the free 45-minute seminars offered to parents and students. Seminars this year include an education panel discussion that features three families -- one that home schools exclusively, one that combines home schooling and private education, and a third that sends their children to a private school. In addition, there will be seminars for college-bound students and their parents. Widaman reports that seminars at the Expo often are standing-room only.
The Metro Voice Christian newspaper sponsors the Expo; corporate sponsors include the Bott Radio Network, which is based in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, and several area radio stations.
Despite the tough economy, families are finding ways to make Christian education a reality. Nationwide, about one percent of all students attend Christian schools.
More information is available about the Expo by calling (816) 524-4522 or by visiting metrovoicenews.com.
