ALTERNATIVE OR TRUE EDUCATION

HOPE ACADEMY

Consider Hope Academy to mold your child to be the best they can be.

Freedom Project-Great Mix

More info coming soon

Take Anywhere Schooling or
HomeSchooling

Here's info on family that put their kids to college by 12-Mona Lisa Harding

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How to Start a Hope Academy
Remember --- This has all been done many times before. You don’t have to invent the wheel. Many resources are available to guide your efforts. Your state may have a Christian School Organization that can support your vision.
6-12 months before opening

Form a Planning Committee of fellow parents, church members and community leaders. Make it your goal to find a common vision for the school. This includes drafting a mission statement such as: "To provide students with a strong academic education coupled with biblical principles so they may live their lives according to the principles taught by the Lord, Jesus Christ." Your mission statement guides your policy-making and attracts supporters who understand your goals.
Form an Executive Committee: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary are basic positions. Make brief job descriptions so people understand their roles. These leaders need to understand how to delegate, follow-up, and develop consensus. Decisions are to be made by discussion and vote. One person doesn’t act independently.
Form Committees and Sub-Committees as needed. Some possibilities: These may include a fiscal committee, an enrollment committee, facility committee, curriculum committee, a marketing team or a legal team. Each committee should be chaired. Attorneys, accountants and business people can be very helpful in some of these committees. Every sub-committee should accomplish action items and report progress at every meeting.
Choose a name by collaborating with your organization. Make sure a web domain is available for your name.
Decide educational philosophy and curriculum emphasis. Develop appropriate resources that teachers can use.
Create a strong business plan. This will be extremely important, especially in obtaining financing. If you plan to solicit donations from members of your church, they should see a copy of your business plan. Draft a solid budget, enrollment projections, staffing solutions and a marketing plan. Include an entrepreneurship plan for students to earn much of their own tuition.
Decide Initial Grade Levels. Start young and build up to older grades if you can’t do all at once.
Apply for 501-C3 Non-profit status. Donations will increase if you are a non-profit.
Establish organizational policies for handling funds, succession of officers, meetings, voting, etc.
Raise capital and resources. Donations can be tax-write offs if you receive your non-profit status.
Decide your location. Consult local municipalities for zoning/building requirements.

4-6 months before opening:

Hire Key personnel: Principal and business manager and possibly teachers.
Develop school policies and standards with the Principal and other committee members. This is a big job but you can start with handbooks that other schools currently use.
Decide if you want to be accredited. This is optional.
Decide Tuition.
Recruit families and volunteers – not just students. The families need to be engaged for the school to be successful.

Make a school website and social networking sites for info and marketing
Arrange KidCEO training workshops

3 months before opening:

Set your calendar.
Start organizing equipment, books, etc needed. This might include technology capabilities.
Have teacher training sessions.

Organize tuition payment methods.
Decide drop-off/pick-up traffic patterns
Order curriculum materials and some school supplies.

1 month before opening:

Have Parent training meeting where family expectations/school policies are made clear
- Have parent information packets to sign
Take required deposits for tuition
Organize your library if you have one.
Order final school supplies

2 weeks-1 day before

Register students and assign classes.
Meet your teacher night/parent support group organizing night
Finish setting up school facility

First Day of School

Take lots of photos!
Stay calm and carry on!

Links: Marva Collins--- a marvelous teacher and school founder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8b1Behi9FM
https://classroom.synonym.com/start-christian-school-4854560.html
State by State Regulations for starting a private school: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf