A travel nurse and travel therapist career offers plentiful professional and personal opportunities. However, when it comes to children or a spouse, the decision comes down to asking the family to relocate with each contract or leaving them at home. If they decide to come along, the experience can prove to be rewarding and fulfilling for everyone in the family.
Once your children are school age, the act of picking up the family and moving takes on new complications. The quality of education they may receive at a school becomes an integral part of the decision making process. Not only does the school itself come into question, but also how easy the commute is to and from the facility, if there are appropriate after-school activities and the school's reputation.
As soon as you've decided to take on a contract, map out the area schools and have a systematic check list of things you require of a school. The U.S. Department of Education offers a comprehensive checklist that combs through a number of the quality standards you may wish to look for. While this list may not include every detail you wish an education institution to include, it will contain most of the necessary questions and help you judge the school fairly.
A few questions on the survey are "What is the attendance rate for students," "Do teachers share the course content and objectives with parents" and "Do the students appear to be courteous, happy and disciplined?"
Use the survey as a starting point for your own evaluation. If it is possible, consider setting up contracts to end or begin before a new semester so your child's schoolwork will not be interrupted mid-year. Making the switch to a new school smooth for your child will make the entire traveling experience happier for everyone in the family.
Check in consistently with your children as well as their teachers and those they interact with on a weekly basis. Knowledge is power and a travel nurse or travel therapist aware of what her children are going through at school can better solve any issues.
If you are concerned that switching schools frequently may leave gaps in a child's education, consider home schooling as an option. As an educated professional, a travel RN or travel therapist may be able to provide the necessary direction and curriculum a growing child needs.