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Starting a School

Start Your Own Private School or College

The mechanics of starting your own private school or college can be extremely challenging for any group of dedicated school founders.

In today's complicated education environment, the need to work smarter and be ready for day one of private school operation is critical and can't be recreated. With proper pre-planning and controls in place over a projects life cycle, founding groups can be better prepared to start the private school of their vision, and manage costs and project development efficiently and effectively, establishing the foundation for a legacy school.

We can help you start a variety of private schools, from K-12 Private Schools to Post Secondary Institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. We can also help you transition your existing school to provide additional grades or programs.

Halladay Education Group is a dynamic and experienced education consulting firm dedicated to providing you customized solutions to start your own private post K-12 or secondary institution and/or programs. With our collective experience of specialized professionals in the education sector and supporting services, and our knowledge and wisdom in starting and leading schools, we can guide you through the enormous challenges you will most certainly face.

Why should you take on the pitfalls and stress that every group faces in starting a new private post secondary programs and institutions, when you could utilize our services and focus on the big picture – making your dreams a reality. As you can understand, the tasks required to start a private post secondary program or institution are extensive and specific to your unique education sector, and can be costly if not implemented correctly – in relation to profits, recognition, and the long-term implementation of your programs.

By utilizing our services and wisdom, we add value in many ways – you take advantage of professionals who have a proven background in leading schools and who are experienced in the mechanics of institutional formation. With our know-how, we can put together a solid plan, and assist you with meeting regulatory requirements, maximize enrollment, align your decisions with your vision, and ensure that your mission is achieved. Ultimately, you will also build on this success in all other areas of your supporting programs.

Halladay Education Group’s mission is to ‘Help You Achieve Greater Success.’ We want to become your trusted adviser, as invested in your future as you are. Halladay Education Group’s services will assist your founding Board and Team with the critical elements needed to start and expand your new school. We can assist you from beginning to completion, sharing our expertise with:

  • Developing a compelling, laser-like Vision

  • Creating your Strategic Plan, Mission, Values, Goals, and Operational Plan

  • Developing the Business Plan and Target Market

  • Coordinating your Legal Team with respect to your Non-Profit Status, Licensing, Bylaws, Constitution, and Incorporation

  • Building Credibility and Awareness in your Extended Community

  • Recruiting and Educating the Board and Senior Administration on Exceptional Leadership, Governance, and Team-Building

  • Marketing Research to Ensure the Vision Meets Community Demand

  • Supporting Development of the Facility Needs, Design, Site Search, and Lease/Purchase

  • Identifying Personnel Needs, Executive Search, Staff Recruiting, Job Descriptions, and Contracts

  • Ongoing Evaluation and Support for the CEO and Board

  • Establishing a Faculty Appraisal System and Professional Development Plans

  • Building the Education Program

  • Determining Combinations for Initial Programs and Phase-In Stages

  • Developing the Marketing Plan to Drive Enrollment, Public Relations, Competitive Positioning, and Admissions Process

  • Supporting the Development of a Strategic Financial Plan for the Formation and Operational Stages

  • Devising School Schedule and Timetable

  • Establishing the Student Management, Record Storage, Accounting, and/or Reporting Systems

  • Supporting the Procurement Process

  • Preparing Policy Manuals for Staff, Students, and Parents Establishing Timelines and Project Management System in Formation Stage

Our School Formation services will help a founding board with all the basic elements necessary to open a new school. HEG can assist you from beginning to completion, or simply share our topic-specific expertise.

Five Reasons to Bring My Company On board

Halladay Education Group Inc. is the leader in school formation. We take pride in assisting people like you start the school of your dreams. Here are five good reasons why you should stop procrastinating and call us now for a free 1-on-1 60 minute consultation certificate.

Reason #1: Halladay Education Group Inc. has experience starting private schools…lots of it. I and my associates have combined to start more than a dozen independent schools. We have hundred of years of experience starting and leading independent schools. We are the leaders in this market.

Reason #2: This experience means that we know the best way to start a new private school and can apply best practices to ensure that the client’s school has the best educational programs possible…that is the reason you open a school…great educational learning experiences.

Reason #3: Our fees are more than recovered through our economies of scale and attracting more qualified students to the client’s private school. So you get more students, better students, and more revenue.

Reason #4: We can structure the private school to ensure that the client has the possibility to recover all of their investment costs with interest. You get the school you want, and still get your money back. That’s the best of both worlds!!!

Reason #5: You’re not alone. We’ve been there…as Heads, Principals, Business Officers, Fundraisers, Marketers, Educators, Builders, Buyers….The list goes on and on. But would you go to a doctor that has never had a patient before? No, probably not. Why would prospective parents invest their money and their child’s education in your school, when you and your founders have NO experience? They wouldn’t.

Our Associates Have Been Involved in Starting and Leading A Number Prestigious Private Schools Including...
Our Senior Associates have, as part of our collective experience, been involved in helping to start, develop, and/or lead a variety of prestigious private K-12 private schools and post secondary institutions. Here are a few of our associate's projects:

US Projects:
  • Island Pacific Academy: IPA is a secular, co-educational, independent school offering programs from PreK-12. It is currently Grades PreK-8 with 1 grade added each year up to Grade 12. One of our associates was engaged by the Estate of James Campbell to start an independent school in the City of Kapolei, Hawaii, in 1999. The consultants oversaw the entire school formation process (e.g., market study, raised funds, built the school, hired Head of School and key staff). The school is now operating in its third year with over 600 students taught in a 65,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility. 
  • Sage Hill School: SHS is a Grade 9-12, Coed college preparatory day school founded in 2000 on a 30-acre campus with academic buildings, library, gymnasium, football/soccer field, baseball field, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball court, and outdoor amphitheater. It has an enrollment of 450 students. It is accredited by WASC, NAIS, CASE, and CAIS.
  • Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy: Santa Ynez is a Grades K-8 Private Interdenominational, coed, religious, nonprofit school of 152 students, and belongs to the ACSI.
  • Fisher Island Day School: FIDS is a Grade Prek-5 Private coed, non-denominational, university prep school. Students are exposed to languages (Spanish and Mandarin Chinese) technology, strong academics, and inculcation of strong character.
Canadian Projects:
  • West Point Grey Academy : WPGA is an independent, Prek-12, university preparatory, co-educational school started by one of our associates and a group of dedicated professionals in 1996. It opened it doors to +300 students enrolled in PreK-Grade 8. Bill Wan was the founding Director and Doug Halladay was the founding Senior School Director and Deputy Head. The school is now ranked #1 academically in the province of British Columbia.
  • Aspengrove School: Aspengrove School is the first and only Prek-12 independent, non-denominational, co-educational, university preparatory school located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. One of our associates was engaged by a group of founding parents in 2002, and advised on the formation of the school over a 12 month span, from the ground up.
  • Stratford Hall School: Stratford Hall is a K-12 ICo-Ed IB preparatory private urban school based in Vancouver, BC. One of our associates was engaged by a group of founding parents, and advised on the formation of the school.
International School Projects:
  • Dalian Maple Leaf International High School: Students are registered as BC students and write the same Grade 10, 11, and 12 BC examinations as resident students in BC and graduate with the same BC Ministry of Education transcripts and graduation (Dogwood) diploma as resident students in BC. English program taught by BC certified teachers. Inspected annually on-site and certified by BC Ministry of Education. Over 2,300 students are currently enrolled.
  • British Columbia Canadian International School of Cairo: It offers a British Columbia program from PreK - Gr.12. All subjects are taught in English and all the academic staff must be BC College of Teachers certified. The school is certified by The BC Ministry of Education and is inspected annually.
Post Secondary Projects:
  • Stenberg College: Stenberg College was acquired in 2002 by a joint venture company that owns CATO. It offers post secondary diploma programs in the area of nursing and allied health care.
  • Center For Arts And Technology: CATO is the industry leader and a respected digital arts school, with campuses in Kelowna, B.C., and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was formed by one of our associates in a joint venture with the Center for Digital Imaging and Sound (CDIS), a leading Vancouver film school. CDIS was subsequently acquired by the Art Institute of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (now know as the Art Institute of Vancouver).
  • Pacific Institute of Trades and Technology: We're presently working with a group of investors to start a new trades and technology institute in Surrey, British Columbia, using the Red Seal Programs of Industry Trading Authority and accreditation through PCTIA.
Recent School Development Projects:
  •  Please click here to see additional projects that HEG has recently been involved with.
Benefit to You

As you can see, the tasks required to start a school are extensive and specific to this unique education sector, and can be costly if not implemented correctly. By utilizing our services, we add value in many ways ‑‑ you take advantage of professionals who have a proven background in leading independent schools and are experienced in the mechanics of starting schools. With our know-how, we can put together a solid business plan, maximize enrollment and fundraising, align your decisions with your vision, and ensure that your new staff supports your mission. Ultimately, you will build on this success in all other areas. This in turn will allow you to:

1. Save money

2. Develop a solid business and strategic plan

3. Find the best school leader and staff possible

4. Maximize your enrollment and revenues

5. Recruit the best board possible and have them govern effectively

6. Develop credibility and awareness in your community

7. Put together a fantastic facility that matches your vision

8. Establish ground breaking educational programs

9. Open your doors on time and under budget

10. Fund raise the funds you need to make your dream a reality

11. Always be there to deal with the problems and know the answer

12. And much more!!!

Your Next Step

We would like to help you start the school of your dreams. The simplest way to do this is to select one the following steps and contact us by phone (1-604-868-0002) or by email info@halladayeducationgroup.com

 FREE CONSULTATION: Hold a F-R-E-E 1-on-1 30 minute telephone consultation to find out more about your project. We can help you get started on the right foot and help you understand where to go to first. This can be can set up just by replying to this email (valued at $399).

 FEASIBILITY & BLUEPRINT SESSION: Hold a 1-day Feasibility and Blueprint Session where we initiate a feasibility analysis of your school’s vision, a financial profile, and develop a comprehensive report, recommendations, and action plan that you can use as a blueprint to move forward with your project

 OVERVIEW MEETING: We can arrange to meet with you and your founding team to go over the critical elements needed to start your school and is needed to ensure that you are headed in the right direction and you have a road map to make it to that destination.

 DEVELOP YOUR BUSINESS PLAN: In many cases, founders need a detailed Business Plan to assist them approaching investors to provide the capital needed to fund the formation of their school and cover potential shortfalls in the first few years of operation. We can assist this with developing a comprehensive business plan that covers all the financial details needed to start and operate your school.

FORMATION CONTRACT: When you are ready, we can tailor a proposal of our services specifically for your formation project that will assist you with the entire process of starting your school. Please note that the fee we charge for the 1- or 2-day meeting will be directly discounted from this contract.

 MONTHLY RETAINER/COACH: Many founding groups feel that they have the internal staff to handle the critical elements in starting their own own school, but like many, they want to have a coach to go to when they have questions or have hit a wall. We can make arrangements to set aside as many days/hours per month so that you can bounce ideas and questions off of us, or determine what the next step is

If you would like more information about how to start a school, or project assistance with starting a private school, don’t wait…let’s make it happen!! Please call me at 604-868-0002 or email me at info@halladayeducationgroup.com to take the next step.

Visit my Inner Circle Blog and read past issues of my Inner Circle eNewsletter.
To your success,

Douglas Halladay B.A., B.ED., M.A.
President and Founder
Halladay Education Group Inc.		 Douglas Halladay