Opening a school is a labor of love, and well worth the effort.
Starting new schools are labors of love for all parties involved. Starting one from the ground up is an intensive commitment of time, labor and resources. It can be well worth the effort in the end through the opportunities it provides for its students and their parents. With the right resources, people on board, and knowledge of what to do, it will be a worthy and worthwhile effort.
Instructions
Gather Information
1. Gather information about the fire safety and health code requirements for opening a school facility. Become knowledgeable about the state and federal regulations that govern curriculum such as number of required school days, hours in the school day, state standards, national standards and if your state has adopted them.
2. Become knowledgeable about faculty requirements needed to teach the curriculum.
3. Check with and join the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) to determine what your state's accreditation requirements are if any. The NCPSA can be an invaluable resource in assisting in the application and review process for accrediting your private school.
Organize a Board of Trustees and Establish Common Goals
4. Organize a board of trustees. Invite a number of people with various interests from within the community. Be sure no one has anything to gain financially from the school's opening. Collaboratively establish a vision and mission statement for the school.
5. Establish a list of goals for the school -- what kind of enrollment, curriculum focus, where recruitment will take place, teacher qualifications, time lines for finishing curriculum-related tasks, and the school's initial opening date.
6. Organize a fundraiser to get some initial funds together. Invite local politicians, community activists, church officials, school officials, and parents. Send media releases out to the local press to advertise the opening of the school.
7. Begin a plan of student recruitment. Do this in collaboration with your board of trustees. Try to get an idea as to what enrollment will look like and plan accordingly.
8. Find an attorney and an accountant to help file for incorporation and tax exempt status, 501(c)(3).
Develop a Plan and Begin Recruitment
9. Develop a business plan in collaboration with the board of trustees. Include a budget for curriculum, utilities, start-up technology, desks, chairs and office furniture. Develop a plan for hiring of personnel -- where to advertise, how many to hire, what areas to hire for, such as clerical, technical, janitorial, and teaching staff.
10. Find a location to house the school. Use the number of students projected to evaluate the type of space you'll need. Begin advertising for staff.
11. Start recruiting for administration, students and staff. Make presentations to parent groups, community centers and libraries. Conduct interviews using pre-established criteria for staff expectations. Get a website up and running to communicate the school's mission statement, recruitment effort, location, and key staff.
12. Begin the student enrollment process approximately one year prior to the opening of school.
13. Hire all staff at least one month prior to the opening of school, and have them attend a week of orientation to review curriculum, school logistics and beginning-of-year procedures. Allow them time to begin instructional planning.
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