As school reopening continues around the country, schools must carefully consider the balance between in-person learning and remote instruction. New York City offers lessons on how to manage this process—including a robust testing system and policies around hybrid scheduling and thresholds for closure—and how to build trust among families, educators, and district officials.
The first step is to identify the right team members for your school business. It’s important that they have the passion for education and young people, but also the skills to support you on the journey ahead. They could include financial experts, lawyers, and those with management and building experience. They should be able to connect you with the right experts, resources, and funding. You can often find these team members through connections within your community and network of supporters.
In addition to recruiting team members, it’s essential that you understand your state’s educational parameters. For example, there may be laws dictating the curriculum, school size, and location. You should also research any zoning requirements, licensing, or permits that you will need to secure in order to operate your school.
Once you’ve settled on the right team and established the parameters, you’re ready to begin planning for school reopening. During this time, you should create a budget, develop strategies for recruiting students, and start drafting an academic program. In addition, you will need to establish a plan for staffing, training, and ongoing support. For instance, you might need to determine whether you’ll have a dedicated team of staff and faculty or if you’re going to bring on external consultants to ensure that your school is safe and effective.