Complying With the Private School Requirements in Your State

The need for quality education is ever-growing. Ultimately, investing in a private school is a wise move since there will always be a demand for education. It’s also a low-risk investment, provided the school is run according to state standards. And under the current global conditions investing in a private school is close to being as recession-proof as any investment can be.

However, all private schools must follow the set school regulatory guidelines in the state. This is because all independent schools are overseen by a board of trustees or governors, who ensure the policies are followed. In this article, we’ll talk about the various regulations and standards private schools must follow.

Private School Requirements in the Various States

Whether you are planning on buying a school in your state or building one, you need to obtain the proper accreditation to run one. Although most of the regulations are similar, some states have specific rules.

The state can regulate several factors, including:

• School standards, teacher certification, and curriculum
• Health and safety issues
• Homeschooling
• Public benefits to private school students

1.   Curriculum

The curriculum in private schools should match that in public schools as closely as possible and be state-approved. According to Alabama state laws, the curriculum, purpose, and objectives should be posted on the catalog or brochure and be accessible to members of the public.

2.   Health and Safety Requirements

All private schools are required by law to have a certificate of immunization to prevent all infectious diseases in the state. The current state health officer is in charge of designing this certificate, and students are required to have it before admission to a private school.

A private school is liable for a five-year incarceration penalty in case of unlawful sale and distribution of substances inside the school or within a three-mile radius. Alabama also directs that all private schools conduct a monthly fire drill and ensure that all the doors and exits can open and nothing is blocking them.

All private schools must conduct a background check on all the employees, teachers, roundsmen, and all other professionals seeking a position in the school. The board should access and receive any criminal records before making the hiring decision. Private schools also need to meet the building code requirements in the state.

3.   Teacher Certification

In New York, the laws regulating private schools state that instructions can only be given by a competent and certified teacher. Therefore, all the professionals working with disabled students also have a special certificate.

Any coaches admitted to private schools must meet the required training criteria. They are also required to know first aid and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

4.   Registering the Private School

In some states, such as Florida, you must register your school with the department of education and report the number of students enrolled in each grade annually. Private schools are also required to update the database at the education department, which will be available to the public.

According to the new state laws in Florida and most states, new private schools must register through the education department. Private schools must also notify the department of education when they open, change location, or move.

School Construction Guidelines

1.   Space

Although learning can happen anywhere, you need to have adequate space if you are thinking of building a school. There are some standard requirements across all states to meet before you can build a school.

First, you should consider getting more space if you intend to have a high enrolment. If you cannot afford a bigger space, you can always move once you’ve grown. However, the space needs to accommodate all the students comfortably.

2.   Lunch and Kitchen Space

Most states require you to provide lunch for the students. If you plan to cook lunch within the school, you must consider meeting the kitchen requirements and ensure you comply with the county and state laws.

Most states carry out inspections as part of the health and safety regulation, and the school kitchen is one of the areas they look at.

3.   Physical Education

Depending on the age of the students you choose to enroll at your school, state regulations may require that you have outdoor activities. If you don’t have space for physical activity, some states may allow you to use public parks.

Some states also have stringent requirements on how the playground should be fenced. You need to consider all these factors when getting space to build a school or purchasing one.

4.   Access and Safety

Security is a considerable aspect when you are establishing a private school. Some of the areas you need to consider, especially when dealing with younger students, include:

• How safe is the pick-up area?
• Is there a safe place for students to wait when they are picked up?
• Who will check all the people entering and leaving the school?
• How will you track who is picking up the kids from school?
• How will school visitors be handled?

You must have all the answers to these questions before opening the school. Complying with safety and accessibility requirements is enforced by most state laws. So, you need to ensure you meet all the criteria before inspection prior to opening.

Seeking Professional Help

All educational institutions need to meet the state laws that direct how they should operate. The regulations are there to ensure that private schools meet high standards of operation and are also ethical. Compliance with these regulations is necessary to ensure that all the operations are held responsibly.

Failure to comply with the set regulations attracts substantial financial penalties that may, in some cases, sink the school into debt. Non-compliance can also cause damage to your school’s reputation, especially when it comes to security and safety matters.

If you don’t understand the requirements in your state, you should consider hiring a consultant to go over them and advise you accordingly. At JAG Consulting Services, we help those that want to build a dream school from scratch, purchase a school in a box, or need consulting services for an existing school. Contact us if you want to learn more about the services we offer.