Learn practical strategies to handle emerging trends and leadership challenges in private schools.
No matter if you’re a School Head, Admission Director, Development Director, Board member, or any other private school administrator—Ideas & Perspectives, ISM’s premier private school publication, has strategic solutions for the pervasive problems you face.
- Tuition not keeping pace with your expenses? In I&P, explore how to use strategic financial planning to create your budget and appropriately adjust your tuition.
- Enrollment dropping off? Discover how to implement the right admission and enrollment management strategies that engage your community—and fill your classrooms.
- Trouble retaining teachers? Learn how you can best support your teachers using ISM’s Comprehensive Faculty Development framework. Your faculty members will become more enthusiastic about their roles—which ultimately improves student outcomes.
- Fundraising campaigns not as successful as you’d hoped? Implement ISM’s practical advice and guidance to build a thriving annual fund, construct an effective capital campaign, and secure major donors—no matter your community size or location.
- Not sure how to provide professional development—for you and your staff? Learn ways to develop and fund a successful professional development strategy. You can improve teacher-centered satisfaction and growth, which in turn strengthens student-centered learning.
- Problematic schedule? You can master the challenges of scheduling with the help of ISM’s practical advice, based on our experience with hundreds of schools and our time-tested theories.
- And so much more.
I&P has shared targeted research, up-to-date insight, and sound theory with school leaders since 1975. More than 8,500 private school decision-makers find the answers to their schools’ administrative and governance matters in our advisory letter. We give you the strategic answers you need.
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See the articles from our latest issue of Ideas & Perspectives.
Six Ways Board Members Fail in Their Roles
Volume 48 No. 3 // March 1, 2023
Being a member of a private-independent school Board is an honor for those invited to serve. This role also carries with it a definitive set of goals and behaviors that positively influence the Board’s culture and the school’s strategic direction.
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Board Member Selection: Aligning Mission and Core Values
Volume 48 No. 3 // March 1, 2023
In a recent I&P article, ISM recommended that schools consider adding “Core Values” to their Purpose and Outcome Statements because it is becoming more difficult for schools to avoid a core values position. There are several reasons for such a recommendation. They include protecting the school’...
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How to Dismantle Your AP Program: Four Essential Elements
Volume 48 No. 3 // March 1, 2023
As we have written in the past, standardized Advanced Placement programs often fail to meet your school’s Purpose and Outcome Statements. A better approach is to design a truly independent, mission- and core values-based curriculum.
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Board Orientation: Start Well
Volume 48 No. 3 // March 1, 2023
There is no doubt every private-independent school needs an engaged Board. As a nonprofit organization, the formation of a Board is an IRS requirement. “The Internal Revenue Service encourages an active and engaged board, believing that it is important to the success of a charity and its compliance ...
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Funding a Facilities Maintenance Plan
Volume 48 No. 2 // February 1, 2023
PPRRSM (often referred to as “PRISM”) stands for Provision for Plant Replacement, Renewal, and Special Maintenance, a term created by private-independent schools to represent funds reserved for physical plant.
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The Development Director and Annual Giving in Tough Times
Volume 48 No. 2 // February 1, 2023
Inflation reigns, and the stock market is uncertain. Enrollment and re-enrollment are down. Last year’s annual giving target wasn’t met, and parents who are struggling to pay tuition aren’t likely to contribute additional funds. The school’s overall financial position is precarious.
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DEIJB and Curriculum
Volume 48 No. 2 // February 1, 2023
A modern curriculum is incomplete without a current Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB) review. Applying a generalized DEIJB framework to any sort of curriculum review and design is a daunting task for many reasons. Foremost, the curriculum serves as a foundational component of a school’s identity.
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Recruit New Students Through Your Summer Program
Volume 48 No. 2 // February 1, 2023
As the Admission Director or Summer Program Director, you have watched your school’s summer program grow. Not only are more of your academic-year students participating, but there are often more students from public schools coming as well.
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Evaluating Success With Your Prospects and Donors
Volume 48 No. 2 // February 1, 2023
ISM has long advocated using the conceptual framework of the Comprehensive Development Model as a foundation for evaluating the effectiveness of development programs. Its six elements—the Strategic Board, Professional and Volunteer Leadership, Case for Giving, Prospects and Donors, Plan of Action, and Donor-Centered Programs—drive program excellence and success.
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Define Your Competitive Niche to Set Your School Apart
Volume 48 No. 1 // January 1, 2023
Year after year, families have an increasing variety of school choices. Not only has the total number of private-independent schools increased, but there also has been a rise in virtual, charter, and homeschool options.
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