|
At
AOPSE, we know the challenges you face when starting a Christian
school. The following steps are a very brief summary designed to
help guide you through the process. Our mission is to provide
the best resources to help make your Christian school a success.
For complete school development kits or a free AOP catalog
please contact us above.
1. Be certain of God's will.
 | Pray fervently. Satan hates the idea of children being
under the influence of God's Word every day. He will try to
stop you by discouraging you. |
| View the video entitled, "Why Christian
Education?", which is produced by Alpha Omega
Publications. (Other messages on Christian Education are
included in the School Development Kit.) |
2. Seek Information.
| Contact your AOP representative to request an information
packet. |
3. Schedule a presentation.
| Call (toll-free) 877-688-2652 to arrange for your regional
AOP Representative to give an onsite presentation of the AOP
program. |
| Schedule a meeting with all interested parents. |
| Review a projected development plan with your AOP
Representative. Ask questions about state regulations
regarding private schools, fire and health codes, teachers,
curriculum, required number of school days, hours per day,
etc. |
4. Visit a school recommended
by your AOP Representative.
| Allow your AOP Representative to arrange for you and other
key leaders to see how the high-tech AOP program operates in
real life. |
| Give each of your staff an opportunity to work through the
Switched-On Schoolhouse curriculum in a "hands-on"
environment. |
5. Finalize your commitment.
| As God leads, sign and return the School Application. |
| Purchase the School Development Kit (SDK) from AOP. |
| If you choose to implement the Switched-On Schoolhouse
electronic curriculum, review, complete, and submit the Site
License to AOP. |
| Purchase the Staff DVD Training Kit and contact your AOP
Regional Representative for further training options. |
6. Assess your technology
needs.
| Determine your network operating system, software
licenses, number of workstations, and cabling. |
| Complete the Technology Development Survey and Technology
Review Questionnaire (available in the SDK). |
| Begin working on the Start-Up timeline from the SDK. |
| Secure operating systems for all computers. |
7. Share your vision and begin
raising funds.
| Set up a Finance Development Committee. |
| Determine the amounts needed for preparation of your
facility and implementation of your technology plan. |
| Review and adjust your budget plans. |
| Develop a fundraising plan from the Fundraising Ideas
section of the SDK. |
| As you present the needs of the school to your
constituency each week, encourage and allow individuals to
donate. |
8. Develop your school
philosophy and policies.
| What will be the mission of your school? Review examples
and suggestions of policies such as: qualifications for
admission, graduation requirements, and academic standards. |
9. Finalize an Operating
Policy.
| Thoroughly review the General Operating Policy Guide in
the SDK and begin preparing the following from the templates
provided on the SDK CD-ROM.
 | All operating policies |
| A sample budget |
| School enrollment package |
| School form |
|
10. Prepare your facility.
| Fulfill all fire, safety, and asbestos inspections in
accordance with your local code. |
| Build or purchase student workstations. |
| Install electrical and set up network. |
| Procure other school furnishings. |
11. Finalize your working
budget.
| Determine "ballpark" figures for what you can
pay staff. |
| Determine what you will have to charge for tuition to
cover staff salaries and overhead. |
| Determine what fees will be necessary to cover curriculum
and other start up costs. |
| Review your financial plan with the Finance Development
Committee. |
12. Promote the school and
register students.
| Develop promotional brochures and flyers. |
| Prepare and submit an announcement to your local
newspaper. |
| Create a radio advertisement. |
| Plan a community drive to promote in local stores and
churches. Build enthusiasm for God's great new work. AOP has
provided templates for brochures, forms, and promotional
materials in the SDK. |
| Prepare enrollment packs. |
13. Hire and train your school
staff.
| Interview prospective staff and prayerfully consider those
character qualities you feel each of you staff should
possess. |
| Train staff in using personalized and computerized
curriculum. |
| Follow AOP suggestions for staff orientation. |
| Review the staff handbook will all staff. |
14. Review your financial
projections.
| Reconsider projected enrollment and staff needs. |
| Salaries and all other costs. |
| Finalize the operating budget for the first year. |
15. Prepare your curriculum.
| If you will be using LIFEPAC curriculum, order diagnostic
testing. |
| If using electronic curriculum, install the Switched-On
Schoolhouse subjects on the school network server. |
16. Diagnose for student
academic needs.
| Schedule and administer student diagnostic testing. |
| Review Diagnosis and Prescription PowerPoint. |
| Prescribe SOS curriculum units for each student. |
17. Order your paper-based
curriculum.
| Review your first order with your AOP Representative.
Place the final paper curriculum order at least three weeks
before students will arrive. |
18. Prepare staff for the
opening day of school.
| Prepare and review the first day's schedule. |
| Discuss the student handbook together. |
| Assign various parts of student orientation to selected
staff members. |
19. Prepare parent
orientation.
| Parents must understand the philosophy, procedures, and
policies of your Christian school. |
| Customize the LIFEPAC parent orientation to meet your
needs. |
| Customize the LIFEPAC parent PowerPoint. |
20. Plan a dedication service.
| Plan details for your Prayer and Dedication Service. |
| Invite parents, students, and community leaders to
participate. |
21. Open your school and begin
making a huge difference in the lives of precious children
entrusted to your care.
|
