“Fair” Admission Practices: The School and the Applicant

Advancement // May 3, 2016

Most children go through a phase in which they are obsessed with what’s “fair,” with an almost martial adherence to rules and equitable division of resources. As they grow older, though, children slowly realize that true fairness is often an impossibility—or rather, that “fairness” means different things to different people. So, if “fairness” does not mean the same thing to everyone, what does a “fair” private-school admission process look like at a mission-driven school?

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Bullying: Seven Ways to Protect Your Students

Academic Leadership // May 2, 2016

We’ve talked about digital harassment in the past, but recent events have reminded us that physical bullying is still alive and well. On April 21, a 16-year-old lost her life after a fight (allegedly over a boy) in the girls’ bathroom of a public school in Wilmington, Delaware. Rev. Sandra Ben of Pray Ground Community Church told the Delaware News Journal, “We know [violence] is happening in the streets. But now we are talking about violence happening in a place that normally should be a safe haven.” Parents choose to send their children to your school, in part because they consider your community safer than the public alternatives. Still, bullying can occur anytime, anywhere—and occasionally, despite your best efforts to educate. (In a moment of cruel irony, this incident occurred in the middle of the school’s anti-bullying campaign season). So this month, let’s talk about the effective ways in which you can keep your school a predictive and supportive space for every student.

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Four Hilariously Ineffective Anti-Drug PSAs

Academic Leadership // May 2, 2016

Children are smarter and more intuitive than many adults give them credit for. They know when they’re being sold to, no matter the window dressing on it. Therefore, advertising campaigns to help young people avoid addictive substances have occasionally… shot wide of the mark. This issue, enjoy a countdown of some of the most hilariously incompetent efforts to educate our children on the dangers of drugs.

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Private School Security Guard Retires With $185K Gift

Private School News // April 29, 2016

When beloved members of school communities choose to retire after decades of loyal service, most would be satisfied a small party with cake and a card filled with handwritten, heartfelt sentiments. But when a security guard at the Hockaday School retired after thirty years on the job, his school community spontaneously came together to offer a fitting farewell to the man who had guarded its students: A check for $185,000. Photo credit to The Scoop/Dallas News

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An Update to the Overtime Salary Rule Change: Nonprofits and Small Businesses Fight for More Time

Private School News // April 29, 2016

Last year, we wrote about the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed changes in salary for exempt employees. To summarize: Employees are “exempt” from overtime pay and minimum wage laws if their job duties classify them as “bona fide executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees” who make a salary of at least $445 per week ($24,500 annually). The rule proposal may bump the minimum salary requirement to $50,440 per year, or $970 weekly. Professionals who make less than that would become eligible for overtime pay. However, groups have begun organizing against this rule change. They argue that the new regulations would place an undue financial burden on nonprofits and smaller companies that would not benefit either employees or organizations. As we look ahead to the coming debates, some breathing space for your nonprofit school may be on the horizon.

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Report Shows Increased Spending, Emphasis on Professional Development

Private School News // April 29, 2016

Continuing education for professionals in every industry keeps employees in the know with the latest-and-greatest tools and techniques, increasing their worth to their employers while keeping morale high. In fact, it’s so important, most states require their licensed teachers to pursue formal continuing education after their initial certification! While the recent recession may have cut into professional development budgets a few years ago, a recent report shows employers’ renewed emphasis on the importance of continuing education for their employees.

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Infographic: Charitable Giving in the United States for 2015

Advancement // April 28, 2016

In terms of private dollar donations, the United States gives more money to charity than any other country. According to The Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies’ comparative report for 36 countries, Americans gave 1.85% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in donations from 1995–2002. While Americans are generous with their fiscal resources, the question remains whether the average donation dollar tends toward your type of nonprofit: A private-independent school.

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Eight Ideas for School Milestones

Advancement // April 28, 2016

Does your school have a special milestone approaching? Such anniversaries offer an excellent opportunity to ramp up advancement efforts. Start planning for those special years, and take advantage of the community spirit to push your school’s advancement plans to the next level.

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Six Ways to Welcome New Families Into the Fold

Advancement // April 26, 2016

New enrollment contracts enter the Admission Office each spring, bringing fresh faces and new hopes to the school community. But, your job as the Admission Director doesn’t end with enrollment! To assist with future re-enrollment, making sure your new families are as welcomed as possible within the new school community is vital. Try these six ways to make new students and their parents feel part of your school from Day One.

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Admission Lessons from Mount St. Mary’s

Advancement // April 26, 2016

Last month, we spoke to lessons that School Heads could take away from the recent Mount St. Mary’s University debacle, which included students compared to bunnies that needed “Glocks put to their heads” and suspect dismissal of tenured teachers. School Heads aren’t the only administrators who can learn from this dramatic story, though. In fact, Admission Directors probably could have helped avert the entire problem before it exploded in catastrophic waves for the entire Mount St. Mary’s community.

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