When you enroll your children in school, you automatically assume that they’re getting a wonderful education. But is that always the case? Whether your child attends a public or private school, how do you know that your young learner is getting a quality education, from reading to mathematics and beyond?

As a child, I attended a public school in my small hometown. I grew up thinking that all schools were created equally and curriculums were somewhat similar from district to district. It wasn’t until I was older that and spoke with other students from across my state that I realized that there was a large amount of variance from school to school.

Now that I’m a parent of two school-aged children, I take great interest in what they’re learning, where their school system stands among others from my state and whether my children are receiving the educations that they deserve. In these economic times, when schools are falling prey to limited budgets and constant shifts in personnel, it’s of the utmost importance to know that my young sons are receiving adequate educations.

I found a book written by former Secretary of Education William J. Bennet, Chester E. Finn, Jr. and John T.E. Cribb called The Educated Child: A Parent’s Guide. It’s an amazing read for parents of school-aged children that really sheds light on the American school system and what should be expected in a quality academic setting. This book is a shoot from the hip guide that clearly outlines what a parent should be looking for in his child’s education.