August 03rd, 2018

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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