Starting a school for students with Learning differences

Wow what a great site this is, I found it while surfing for statistical studies.

My name is Diana and I am currently working on starting a high school for children with learning differences. I work at the college level as the head of the IT department, but have a high school aged daughter with a learning difference. Where we live the public schools do not address most learning differences as well as they should. I see a lot of children and young adults that are frustrated like my daughter and do not reach their full potential because they do not receive the support they need.

I have been an educator for over 12 years and enjoy what I do and feel I make a difference, but want to help the children I see that need it the most which are the high school students. I have founded a non-profit, put together a board, I am currently working on the IRS 501C3 non profit paperwork and am fundraising to raise the money to file the papers with the IRS and hopefully get the school open.

I would love comments, advice, information for fundraising, grants anything that will help me get started as our state is one of 6 in the U.S. that do not recognize charter schools so I must do this a non-profit private school.

If anyone has any comments, Please let me know.

Thanks,

Diana

Every year the U.S. government puts out a list of grants and funding available for nonprofits. I came across this years ago by working on a project with our local state assemblmen. You may want to give yours a call.

Have you thought about asking for volunteers who do construction, plumbing, etc. These may be some of the childrens parents who will be attending your school. Also, try to get a "Small Business Loan" for females. Hope that gives you some insight. Oh, one more thing, have a fundraiser selling raffle tickets. These tickets will depict the first prize is 3 months free tuition, second prize will be 2 months free tuition, and the third prize will be 1 month tuition free. Well, I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for but, it might draw a lot of ticket sales!!!! (smile). GO FOR IT!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!! Write me back at ypeals@slps.org and let me know how things go....

Yvette,

I like you idea of the raffling off for free tuition, I have looked at the loan idea before, but the SBA normally won't loan money for a school or non-profit only to for profit businesses.

One of the things I am doing right now is selling Dyslexic Guardian Angel pins, they are beautiful i found a lady that custom makes them and they are absolutely adorable. I have a picture on my website at

http://www.learningdifferences.net

thanks for your ideas, please stay in touch.

Diana