When it comes to your family’s future, investing in education is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. When considering international schools, a critical deciding factor for parents that will significantly influence their final decision is knowing where their hard-earned investment in their childrens’ education will be spent.
Not-for-profit schools consider students to be their sole shareholders and the number one priority. The primary purpose of the schools’ existence is to deliver on the promise of the schools’ mission by providing a world-class education, and to provide a rich variety of opportunities to enable every learner to discover their full potential.
At a not-for-profit school, students are at the heart of all decisions. These decisions involve using all the fees to provide the students with the best teachers, learning environment, facilities, resources, and range of opportunities that can help set up students for future success.
Here are four ways not-for-profit international schools reinvest funds back into the student experience, and why parents should consider a not-for-profit international school for their children.
Not-For-Profit schools put student needs first
Not-for-profit international schools acquire funds through tuition, endowments, donations, and sometimes through government funding. Rather than sharing profits with stakeholders, any profits generated by a not-for-profit international school is reinvested back into the school to benefit the educational experience of the students.
Do you have some reservations about enrolling your child in an international school? We discuss and clarify the top 6 myths about international schools here.
Not-for-profit international schools benefit students by reinvesting funds back into the school in the following ways:
1. Passionate and experienced educators
At a not-for-profit international school, tuition fees are often utilized to recruit, hire and retain highly qualified and experienced teachers. These funds will pay for the teachers’ salaries, benefits, professional development, and potentially their relocation.
These reinvestments benefit students by providing teachers who will deliver high-quality instruction, which is one of the many critical factors influencing their life after school.
2. World-class facilities
Not-for-profit schools reinvest funds to improve and maintain facilities such as technology, performing arts and sports facilities, specialized classrooms, etc. These facilities encourage effective learning of the course material and influence the student’s educational experience.
A study at PennState University showed a correlation between school facilities and the school experiences of students and teachers. The study shows that not only do facilities affect a school’s ability to hire and retain good teachers, but it also impacts the students’ health, behaviorism, and engagement levels.
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3. A wide range of co-curricular options
Many international schools offer various co-curricular activities, so it’s important to review the opportunities available at each school on an individual basis. Not-for-profit schools reinvest funds in maintaining and improving the facilities, equipment, uniforms and any other requirements of these activities so that students gain a more wholesome educational experience.
With a clear investment in maintaining facilities and developing facilities, with enhancing student learning as the end goal in mind, not-for-profit schools could offer more co-curricular opportunities, and it is from these opportunities that students find their strengths and become the person they were meant to be.
Having the option to participate in different co-curricular activities at an international school benefits students who learn lifelong skills such as effective time management, setting goals and priorities, staying committed, and learning to proactively or creatively solve problems. Co-curricular activities can also be an excellent way for students to continue learning outside of the classroom, and participate in an activity that is fun, but educational.
4. Enhanced student support services
While most schools provide some degree of student support services, not-for-profit international schools can be more intentional about investing extra resources and are better able to reinvest back into enhanced student services. These additional student support services include, but not limited to career services, academic advisors, guidance counselors, English as an additional language teachers (EAL), speech therapy pathologists and more.
Through these services, students gain access to substantial support and guidance, and schools can accommodate and provide for the diverse needs of the students.
These needs may include improving English language skills, planning and mapping out post-secondary education plans, fulfilling university application needs or even emotional support and guidance.
There are many reasons to send your child to a not-for-profit international school as the fundamental focus of these schools is to deliver the best educational experience possible to their students, not providing profits to shareholders
This focus is achieved through constant reinvestment of both funds and efforts towards its students’ holistic growth.
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