Starting a Public Montessori School: A Planning Timeline
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PHASE I: PRE-PLANNING
(18 – 24 MONTHS AHEAD OF OPENING)
Gathering Stakeholders & Assembling Resources
- Assemble a design team
- Establish relationships with nearby Montessori schools, public and private
- Learn about local options for starting schools: district, magnet, charter
- Educate local leaders (school leaders, community leaders, parents)
- Visit nearby public Montessori programs
- Prepare a fact sheet that addresses key questions related to launching a public program:
- Proposed size of program
- Potential locations of program
- Start-up costs
- Teacher recruitment and training
- If your state offers start-up support (available specifically for new charters), apply for financial or technical assistance
- Cultivate funders to support initial planning (typically ’12-18 months ahead of school opening)
PHASE II: INITIAL PLANNING
(12 MONTHS AHEAD OF OPENING)
Operationalizing the Vision
- Finalize plans for size, scope and location of program
- Draft and submit application (for charter or magnet)
- Reconstitute initial design team to serve as official planning board, responsible for:
- Negotiating agreements with state/district
- Hiring architects, contractors and other professionals necessary to prepare physical plant
- Recruiting and hiring school leader
- Developing system of student recruitment and selection
- Managing budget
- Launch School website
- Recruit students and families
PHASE III: FINAL PLANNING
(FIVE MONTHS AHEAD OF OPENING)
Countdown to Opening
- Complete operations plan
- Hire instructional staff
- Conduct lottery
- Orient new families
- Complete all needed construction/renovation