I just wanted to say that I think it would be a great idea for more parents to look into remote or online school. We all know that there's a lot of risk in traditional schools these days, and it's so important to keep our kids safe.
Another great option is pathway schools. These are schools where kids learn basic math and other subjects up to 6th or 8th grade. Then, they can choose to diverge into other areas of study like plumbing, psychology, or even business. I'm not totally sure what they're called or if we have them in the US, but I've heard they're really good for kids! They seem to make them feel happier and more content, and they encourage them to learn more and go further.
What risks, precisely? I see lots of risks with online schools too. There’s a lot of evidence (example) from the acute COVID phase that remote and hybrid learning as implemented then has severe drawbacks for the majority of children, and I haven’t seen any concrete evidence to suggest that remote learning has any advantages besides being remote.
I figured that’s what you meant but I don’t think remote schooling is a good solution to that problem, unless the plan is to never be anywhere there are crowds since those are also a target for shooters.
However I do feel for you. I’ve more or less ruled out the US as a place to do a postdoc for among others this reason (the others being difficult to bring my dog, terrible access to childcare and healthcare and just generally the entire social welfare system being a nightmare). I’m much less worried about actual violence than I am about trauma from exposure to drills though.
I read in another comment that you are trying to avoid a mass shooting episode. Instead of changing schools, let's change access to ammo and mental health services via laws and voting, restricting one and making the other universal and taxpayer supported. I think that would be more effective. It would keep children safe in schools, in churches, in movie theaters, at birthday parties, etc.
I think that children learn best in the environment that fits their brain the best. If that's remote - awesome - but if not, I'll fight a different way for my child's safety in a physically in person school setting. And my child needs the accountability of the in person setting.