A little more about my thought process (regarding schools)

1. why not aim high?

2. exposing Jacket’s mom to all of her schooling options can only help

3. getting Jacket’s mom in school mode early, via private school applications, can only help prepare her for public school registration

4. Touring private, charter and (if it’s an option) public schools can only give Jacket’s mom more perspective- an opportunity she’s never had

5. a local, private school admissions counselor, and teachers who have met Jacket’s mom, think that they wouldn’t be the most impossible family Brooklyn has ever experienced

6. the right school, with the right mission and balanced SES ratios will see the value in extending their educational opportunity to a child like Jacket despite her mom’s behavior

7. Jacket’s mom can ALWAYS pull her out of private (or charter) school and put her in public school (and of course the private school can kick her out)

8. I don’t envision a private school having parental demands for Jacket’s mom that exceed public school. Additionally, I’ll be plugged in from day one to fill in the gaps

9. No decisions will be made until next summer

10. With the recent ACS case, I’m reminded that Jacket could be back in my care at any moment. I’ll be making the school decisions then, but right now there’s the possibility for her mom to be completely involved

11. Jacket’s mom likely won’t even be able to register Jacket for public school without significant support- private school is no different. I could just sit back and wait for her to crash and burn, or I could actually step-up

12. She’s asked me to help- there’s no way in hell I can refuse that, even if I know she’s bound to sabotage it