Why an Education Consortium is Brilliant
I am privileged
to work with a group of schools that coalesce for certain activities.
To my knowledge, the Middlesex Consortium, based in central
Connecticut, is the only one of its kind.
More parents deserve a consortium in their towns.
In an era when
many public schools are reducing their extra-curricular offerings,
Middlesex has expanded its offerings.
By funding two administrators, Superintendents in seven
Connecticut districts save money on many activities.
Moreover, Middlesex students receive activities can’t be had at
all when a single school tries to undertake them.
Latin, chess, public speaking, and high level computer
programming, are middle school activities that typically need 15 or more
students to justify a good instructor, and 50 or more students to
justify a really strong instructor (who can teach varied sections).
Similarly, in high school, Chinese, entrepreneurship, anatomy,
geology, economics, SAT prep, and speed reading also require a critical
mass that many high schools lack.
College
preparation is the activity with which I am most familiar.
My firm provides private tutoring and on-campus SAT prep classes.
Schools that enlist Ivy Bound save money for their participating
students. We can give a top
tier course at a reduced price.
It’s typically 20 – 30% reduced.
With a consortium providing many more students, we can reduce the
rate 60 – 70%.
The high number of students also means the SAT classes can be
split into slower and faster paced classes, and in some cases it allows
us to offer weekend and weekday classes.
Students have more choices, lower cost, and a more honed learning
experience.
SAT Prep is the
tip of the extra-curricular iceberg.
SAT study is for many students the end of a long learning
process. Students who can
have myriad activities start their enrichment well beforehand.
To parents who
are looking for private-school opportunities but are pressed to afford
the tuition, and parents who relish public education but are facing
cutbacks, I suggest starting a consortium.
Offer private educators the chance to bid for services; you’ll be
impressed at how many replies you will get.
My firm for one would come running (we prefer dealing with active
parents or truly outside-the-box superintendents than entrenched
bureaucracies).