SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

For the ninth year, Shelby County Schools have been selected by SchoolMatch along with 23 other Alabama public school systems to receive the What Parents Want Award.

SchoolMatch is the nation&8217;s largest school selection consulting firm.

It helps corporate employee families fund schools that match the needs of their children.

Shelby County has received the award since 1998 and joins the list with other schools systems including Arab City, Athens City, Auburn City, Baldwin County, Daleville City, Decatur City, Dothan City, Enterprise City, Florence City, Hartselle City, Homewood City, Hoover City, Huntsville City, Jacksonville City, Jefferson County, Madison County, Mobile County, Mountain Brook City, Muscle Shoals City, Ozark City, Trussville City, Tuscaloosa City and Vestavia Hills City.

Criteria for selection includes competitive test scores, accreditation, recognition for excellence by a national foundation or the U.S. Department of Education, competitive teacher salaries, above-national-average instructional expenditures and small class sizes.

An April 1 survey of the 22-field SchoolMatch Public School Database revealed that only 16 percent of the nation&8217;s public schools consistently provide &8220;What Parents Want&8221; in public education