The Feasibility Study

ISNA Education Forum 2010 – Pre-ConferenceStarting an Islamic High School

Sr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth Academy www.ayatampa.org

ISNA Education Forum 2010

“We have a successful K – 8 Islamic School. We know we want to have an Islamic High School for our students, and we know that we have to provide it for them. It is a noble and necessary venture, and, insha’Allah, we will make it happen.”

Sr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth Academy ISNA Education Forum 2010

" $َو$ّك"ل َت و "اعقل


A Feasibility Study is:

“Analysis or research into the practicality of a proposed plan or method, based on factors like marketplace, competition, available technology, manpower, and financial resources.” (Dictionary.com)

In our schools, “facilities” might take the place of “available technology.”


Sub-Area Current Status Needed for High schoolPerson / People in

Charge of Conducting this Portion of the

Study

Resources Needed to Meet Requirements /

Sources to TargetFinding(s)

Current School Population

# of Students in Gr. 8

# of Students Required to Cover the Financial

RequirementsQuestions to ask:

Will all students be in one academic program?

Will there be different tracks/levels of coursework?

Will transportation be offered to students who

live in areas that may be closer to other Islamic

K-8 schools in the area?

Community(Students NOT currently

enrolled in Islamic School K-8 program)

# of Students in the Community Currently in

Gr. 8 Who Might be Interested in Islamic

High School if a Quality High School Presented

Itself

Other K – 8 Islamic Schools in the Area

# of Students in Other Islamic K-8 Schools in the Area Who Might be

Interested in Islamic High School if a Quality High School Presented

Itself


Sub-Area Current StatusNeeded for High

school

Person / People in Charge of Conducting

this Portion of the Study



Public Schools

# of Students Currently Enrolled in K – 8

Compared to #’s in the Surrounding Public

Schools

# of Public High Schools that Serve the

CommunityPrograms Offered by

These Schools Questions to ask:Why/How do they

attract our students/families?

Private Schools

# of Students Currently Enrolled in K – 8

Compared to #’s in the Surrounding Private

Schools

# of Private High Schools that Serve the

CommunityPrograms Offered by

These Schools Questions to ask:Why/How do they

attract our students/families?

What are the Tuition/Fees being paid by the families for these

programs?Would they be willing

to pay the same tuition/fees for an

Islamic School Education?


Sub-Area Current Status Needed for High school

Person / People in Charge of

Conducting this Portion of the

Study

Resources Needed to Meet

Requirements / Sources to Target

Finding(s)

Classrooms

# of Total Classrooms

# of Classrooms Currently Being Used on a Daily

Basis

Questions to ask:Can any of the current rooms be physically

divided?Are there current classrooms that are empty

enough periods per day that they can be used for Gr. 9?

Lab Facilities# of Lab Facilities

(Computer & Science)

Questions to ask?How often are the Middle School Lab facilities

being used by Middle School?Can they be used for High School when not in

use by Middle School?How much equipment (if any) will need to be

added to meet requirements for Gr. 9 curriculum?

Sports’ Facilities

Sports’ Facilities Currently Available for Middle School

Questions to Ask:Will sports’ teams be developed for High

School?Will teams compete with other schools?Do dimensions of current facilities meet

requirements for High School competition?Will fees be charged for participating in such

activities?





Study

Resources Needed to

Meet Requirements/

Sources to Target

Finding(s)

Teachers# of Teachers in Each

Grade Level & Subject Area

Adequate # of Trained Teachers to Teach High School Courses

Questions to Ask:Are there any teachers currently teaching

Middle School who may be able to teach High School courses?

Are there teachers in the community that can be recruited who are willing to teach on a

part-time basis if needed?Are there teachers who can teach more than

one subject area?

Academic Counselors# of Counselors

Available for Academic Counseling

Counselor (or other Admin) who is well-versed in High School requirements, College

Admission requirements, Scholarship availability & application process, etc.

Questions to Ask:If the current counselor does not have this

background, can s/he be trained?If not, is it possible to contract with someone outside the school to keep from having to hire

a FT person?

Administrators# of Administrators Overseeing Middle

School

Question to Ask:Is current Administrative Staff able to include

High School in their duties?





Study



Tuition Income

Tuition Charged for Middle School as

Compared to That of Elementary x # of

Students at Each Level

Amount of Tuition that Will Need to be Charged per Student to Cover

Costs of High SchoolQuestions to Answer:

Will parents be willing to pay more for High School than for Middle

School?Will income from Elementary be used

to subsidize any shortfall?

Donations

Amount of Current Donations that Go towards General

Operating Expenses

Amount of Increase that Will be Needed in Donations in Order to

Cover Costs of High SchoolQuestion to Answer:

Is your community prepared to make more donations towards this end?

Federal GrantsAmount of Federal Grants Currently

Received Annually

Amount of Federal Grants that Will Come in with Addition of High

School

State GrantsAmount of State Grants

Currently Received Annually

Amount of State Grants that Will Come in with Addition of High

School

Private GrantsAmount of Private Grants Currently

Received Annually

Amount of Private Grants that Will Come in with Addition of High

SchoolSr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth Academy





Study



SalariesCurrent Salary Scale for Full-Time / Part-Time

Teachers

Salary Scale for High School Teachers

TrainingCurrent Annual

Amount Spent on Teacher/Staff Training

Amount that will be required for Middle School Teachers and/or

Admin to receive additional training that will qualify them to teach High

School courses and/or Supervise/Guide High School

students

Facilities

Current Amount designated for Growth

& Development of Facilities

Amount that will be needed to:1) Build additional space2)Modify existing space

Books, Equipment & Supplies

School’s Current Policies & Status Re: Books, Equipment &

Supplies

Questions to be Asked:Will textbooks be purchased new or

used?What is the requirement for

accreditation with regards to age of textbooks?

Will all equipment be purchased at one time or will it be purchased on a

quarterly or “as-needed” basis?Will parents be expected to pay for

the purchase of the textbooks, equipment and supplies, or will they be purchased with start-up money?


The findings from the study must then be discussed, abilities

determined and decisions made as to:

Whether or not to proceed with the project of adding a High School to the

existing K-8 school.

What date to set as the planned opening date of the High School if the decision

is made to proceed.

How many grade levels to add at one time.

What type of academic programs to offer.

Tuition and fee scales that will be set.

Faculty/staff that will be hired, if any, and how they will be recruited.

Retaining contractors if building or modifications of existing building are

needed.

How the idea will be marketed to the community and students recruited.

Who will in charge of supervising/spearheading the process. Sr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth Academy


ISNA Education Forum 2010 – Pre-ConferenceStarting an Islamic High School

Sr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth Academy www.ayatampa.org


Step #1: Setting up the Steering Committee

Composedof: Administration, Board of Directors, Faculty, Clerical/Office Staff, and Motivated Parents

Set up to: Proceed with the investigation into what is required for launching the high school & for following-through until implementation.


Step #2: Knowing the Requirements

State Department of Education

County School Board

State University System

Accrediting Board


Step #3: Completing the Feasibility Study

The results of the feasibility will guide you through the rest of the steps.


Step #4: Setting Aside the Minimum Amount of Start-up Funding

How much money is required for start-up?

This amount must be collected & set aside; it will be used to

cover:

Remodeling existing facilities or buying/building new facilities

Furnishing classrooms and labs if necessary

Recruiting faculty and staff

Recruiting students

Publishing materials

Purchasing Textbooks Sr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth Academy ISNA Education Forum 2010

Sample Budget is in the packet.

Attention must be made to what is needed “In Addition To” the existing program.


Step #5: Recruiting and Hiring Faculty and Staff

The needed faculty and staff will need to be recruited and hired. They will include:

Faculty (Teachers) Guidance Counselor (PT) High School Supervisor/Director (PT)

Recruiting of Faculty & Staff can be done through several different avenues which may include:

Teacher/Admin recruiting web-sites such as www.teachers-teachers.com Islamic and/or professional journals School’s web-site Local google/yahoo groups National Listserves


When determining staffing needs, a worksheet can be used that is similar to one included in the packet.


Step #6: Recruiting and Finalizing Enrollment for Minimum

Number of Students Required

How will the recruitment be done?

Who is targeted?

Who is reached?

Who actually enrolls?


Step #7: Remodeling / Purchasing / Move-In Schedule

This may take more or less time depending on what a school has determined are its needs. If the facilities are sufficient in the K-8 school to accommodate Gr. 9, then the work will be minimal and can probably be completed in a matter of weeks to a month.

If construction of new facilities will be involved, the scope of the construction will determine how early it must be started.


Step #8: Finalizing Student Handbook

It is very important to review the school’s policies and add what pertains specifically to high school.

Include: (1)Description of the program & course of study (2)Promotion/retention policies (credit-based?)(3)Upgrading policy if applicable(4)Affiliations with local community colleges or on-line

high school programs if applicable(5)Etc.

Sr. Magda Elkadi Saleh – Principal - American Youth

Academy www.ayatampa.org ISNA Education Forum 2010

Step #9: Finalizing Academic Calendar

Keep in mind dates for:

PSAT / PLAN

SAT / ACT / SAT Subject Tests

AP Exams

Ordering / Scheduling dates for each of

these exams

Graduation


Step #10: Placing Orders for Books, Materials & Supplies

Textbooks can often be purchased at discounted rates from companies such as Follett or Budgetext.

Many supplies and furnishings can often be purchased at local auctions that are held regularly throughout the year.


It CAN be done!

Insha’Allah wa bi ‘ithnihi


Documents

The Feasibility Study