Perspectives on School Choice: Somali Parents’ Experiences With Charter Schools in the United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT Charter schools have emerged as the most prominent manifestation of educational reform in the United States. As an alternative to traditional public schools, charter schools have been the schools of choice for Somalis. Through in-depth interviews, this phenomenological study explored the experiences of a dozen Somali parents of children who attended Somali-operated charter schools in Minnesota, United States. The study found that the schools protected Islamic values and culture, functioned as an extended home for Somali children, and facilitated communication considered essential to the social well-being of resettled refugees. Additionally, the study shed light on the importance of religious principles and cultural values in shaping parents’ choice of schools for their children.