School from Scratch: 2Nd Edition

By Doug Crowder

School from Scratch could be the resource you need to open the doors of your mind to awesome possibilities.

Drawing on forty years of starting schools and a host of other educational ministries worldwide, Doug Crowder shares stories and insights that will challenge you to step out and boldly follow God’s leadership.

Writing in a straightforward fashion, he walks you through how to confront a lack of resources, how to identify facilities, how to navigate legal issues, and more. Get answers to questions such as:

· Is it really possible to share the gospel through education?
· How did the COVID-19 pandemic create opportunities for school startups?
· Which school models are most likely to succeed?

The author emphasizes that there are God-fearing, believing people, families, business owners, and even entire church congregations without a well-developed biblical worldview. Through education, we have the opportunity and privilege to enhance the lives of others—both young and old.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664280137

Doug Crowder

Doug Crowder is the head of schools of Upward International Schools, headquartered in Northern California with learning centers and schools in Malaysia, Kenya, and the United States of America. The organization began in a donut shop in Paradise, California, twenty years ago and has planted education ministries and schools in churches and ministries throughout the world.

Book preview

School

From

Scratch -

2nd Edition

Doug Crowder

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Copyright © 2022 Doug Crowder.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard

Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman

Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Cover and drawings by Talia Walker

(ninth grade student, Upward International Schools)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8014-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8015-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8013-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022918630

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/17/2022

FOREWORD

KARL BASTIAN

Everyone knows the Great Commission that compels us to go into all the world and share the Gospel. What is often forgotten is the second half of that commission—the educational mandate: teaching them to observe all I commanded you (Matthew 28:20a).

Yes, we need to reach the lost, and Doug Crowder has been on the front lines of mission work for his entire ministry. But he also understands the need to disciple those who come to Jesus so they can grow and get to the work of the kingdom. It is critical that we do everything we can not only to teach the Bible, but to do so in a way that transforms lives.

In Nehemiah 8:8, we read, They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so they could understand what was being read. But what do you do when there is a need for Biblical education and the schools available to help evangelize and educate the next generation just aren’t available?

That’s when you might find God calling you to start a school. Yes! You can start a school from scratch. The very idea can be daunting and intimating. Doug knows this, because he lived it when God called him to do this very thing. If only Doug had ha a book like this to help him on that journey!

Well, the good news is, you do! This book will help you through the process of launching a school and help guide you around, under and over the hurdles you will face. It will save you time, prepare you for what to expect, and give you practical insight to put you on a path to success!

If you are reading this, God has indeed given you a big task! He never calls where he will not provide and Guide. I know this book will be a part of God’s assistance in your adventure of helping to fulfill the Great Commission. Remember, you can do "all things through Him who strengthens you and will provide all you need!" (Philippians 4:13, 19).

Because Jesus loves children,

Pastor Karl Bastian

Founder, Kidology.org

CONTENTS

1     The Vision Begins

2     What Is an Education Ministry?

Homeschool Groups

After-School Programs

Adult Education

School of Ministry

Special Needs and Situations

Traditional? School

SCHOOL FROM SCRATCH

3     A Biblical Worldview

Let’s Begin! Gathering the Pieces

4     People

Harmonious Philosophy

Teachers

Qualifications of Teachers

Professional Development

5     Location, Location, Location

Church Locations

Ministry, Opportunities, and Challenges

Space

Money

Other Locations

6     Curriculum

Content

User Friendly

Flexibility

Other Resources

7     Recordkeeping

Attendance

School Transfers and Permanent Records

Financial Records

Income and Expense

8     Technology

Student and Classroom Technology

Remote Education

Video Classes

Parental Concerns

School Management and Administration

9     Legal Issues

A Church-Operated School

Setting Up the Independent School

Bylaws

Governing Boards

Licenses and Inspections

10       Accreditation

THE BEGINNING

11       Time to Scratch

12       A Little History

Public Schools

Christian Homeschools

Appendix

Author’s Recommendations

A Technology Testimony

Notes

1     THE VISION BEGINS

W hen was the last time your child pushed you into doing something that you had no intention of doing? This journey on which I am about to take you begins exactly like that—with a push from our daughter.

It all began many years ago when our daughter, now forty-five, was four years old and allowed to enter kindergarten in Tucson, Arizona. At Christmas break, she decided someone had deprived her of an education. She was then five, and they had not yet taught her to read.

After we expressed our frustrations to anyone who would listen, a friend gave us copies of paperback phonics readers from Florida-based Abeka Books. Learning to read with phonics was not taught in that era. Over the Christmas break, with the help of the readers and alphabet blocks, we taught her to read things such as, Pat the rat sat on the cat. You get the idea.

When she returned to school after the break, she took it upon herself to read for the class when it was her turn for show-and-tell. That night, the teacher phoned me, asking why I had made that little girl learn to read at such an early age. My wife and I decided recently that, even now, we still haven’t made her do anything.

By the next school year, we had moved to San Diego County and enrolled her in the elementary school across the street from our house and our church. A few days into the school year, our daughter came