PROGRESSIVE ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
BUSINESS PLAN

LONG-TERM GOAL(S)

The long-term goal of Progressive Academy of Technology is to develop a quality cost effective alternative to provide Christian based educational services to students involved in home, private, or public school. We will provide a safe environment to teach Bible based academic courses that develop character in our students. Traditional and non-traditional education methods, to include distance learning, will be provided to afford students the opportunity to participate in in-school, Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Education Development (GED), Virtual High School, academic vocational training or tutoring programs. The courses will be developed over time and will eventually be housed on our server and will be accessible on a 24/7 basis.

SHORT-TERM GOAL(S)

In the short-term we plan to assist parents who have chosen to educate their child or children at home or in our Christian School. The in-school program will include pre-school classes for K3 and K4 and will grow from there. In our umbrella program for K through 12th grade, the parents purchase their own study materials and can choose to: (1) study from home using the materials but allowing us to maintain school records; (2) study in our structured environment in our classroom; (3) use tutors in our school when needed; (4) study courses at a distance (i.e. Florida Virtual School courses or our courses - this requires a student to use a home computer or one of our computers in our lab); or (5) participate in other activities sponsored by our school. Parents' education of their children is our goal with us assisting them in any way we can. Our curriculum includes a study of the Bible with a strong emphasis on what the Bible teaches. We plan to offer the program in phases.

BIOGRAPHIES OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM

Ralph A. Peyton, President of the Company

6 months as Assistant Principal at Agape Christian Academy, Niceville, FL

26 years of management experience

o18 as a management analyst in the U. S. Air Force.
o 8 years as working supervisor of Transportation Shop, Pensacola Junior College

7 years of part-time vocational teaching at Pensacola Junior College.

11 years automtoive repair experience

o 3 years as automotive technician Gary Smith Ford, Fort Walton Beach, FL
o 8 years as working supervisor at Pensacola Junior College

Bachelor's degree in education with emphasis in educational program development (vocational). Discipline includes: Special needs courses, methods of teaching, developing lesson plans, and teaching from lesson plans.

Master's degree in educational leadership with emphasis in instructional technology. Discipline includes: educational leadership training, using technology in education, design and development of lesson plans, web page design and development, distance learning methods, procedures, and equipment needed.

Teach Bible to 4th and 5th grade students, 2nd and 3rd grade students and Bible Basics class for adult students.

SERVICES WE PLAN TO OFFER

Phase 1:

Finalize estimate of new Corporation

  • Create Articles of Incorporation (Private School)
  • Create By-Laws
  • Create Tax Exempt status (IRS)
  • Form committee to contact prospects to join our school.
  • Form committee to promote support of school
  • Decide on Teacher hiring qualifications and religious affiliation
  • Decide on church and school use of property and building
Phase 2:

Facilities and land

  • Check laws on land use and building codes.
  • Purchase land.
  • Use donated or leased land.
  • Build Facilities to school specificati
Phase 3:

Staff and options for classrooms

  • Staff
    o Set up school administration and office.
    o Hire Principal / Director / Secretary / Teachers / etc.
  • Options for classrooms
    o Start with 3 & 4 year olds.
    o Start with 3, 4 equal to 5 year olds.
    o Start with 3, 4 equal to 5 year olds and Home schoolers.
  • Set up a preschool for 3 and 4 year olds (Phonics / A Beka)
    o Special requirements for this age group
  • Set up a preschool for 3, 4 and 5 year olds (Phonics / A Beka)
    o Must have same number in K3 + K4 class = K5 class
Phase 4:

Set up a Computer Lab with server to host curriculum.

  • Begin loading lesson plans onto WebCT for Bible classes
  • Begin loading student information on WebCT program
  • Set up umbrella school for home schoolers.
  • Set up tutoring classrooms.
  • Initiate contact with the Florida Virtual School for slots
  • Set up a Science and Technology Lab
Phase 5:

Expand building

  • Expand building for classrooms as needed
Phase 6:

6 Set up foster care program with corporation as State

  • Faith-based foster care.
  • Recruit personnel for foster care.
  • Expand building or purchase houses for foster care.

THE NEED FOR A SCHOOL

It is expected that our starting enrollment will be close to 40 students. With the addition of a new building at the church for the Science and Technology Lab, and computers in the classroom, the school will be able to offer a higher quality of education than is normally offered in private schools. We intend to allow children of low-income families the opportunity to attend our Christian school using scholarships and tuition discounts based on family income. By reaching out to all economic levels this Christian outreach mission will make us more attractive to potential parents.
By adding a new building to the church property, we will be able to offer a quality Christian education. Progressive Academy of Technology is blessed with an excellent staff, it is only lacking in physical space and equipment. This new building will allow us to grow in quality of our program and quantity of children we can serve.

THE NEED FOR AN UMBRELLA FOR HOME SCHOOLERS

NATIONAL

According to Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. in his web page article dated February 2003, "the market for home schooling is growing as more parents decide to take their children out of public schools and home school them. There were an estimated 1,700,000 to 2,100,000 children (grades K-12) home educated during 2002-2003 in the United States. Home schooling appears to still be the fastest-growing form of education. Home education families are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources - they likely save American taxpayers over $10 billion per year

FLORIDA

According to the Florida Department of Education the number of home educated students has risen by 59 percent in the last five years with 25,930 home educated students during the 1996 - 97 school year and escalating to 41,128 students in 2000 - 01. "Home education is the fastest growing alternative to public schools and traditional learning environments." (http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00077/home0077.htm)

Okaloosa County Leads the Trend

The School District of Okaloosa County has experienced an 84 percent growth in home educated students in the past five years. At a minimum, the growth rate is 15 percent annually in the Okaloosa School District. The number of home educated students has risen from 467 during the 1996 - 97 school year to 858 students during the 2000 - 01 school year. However, many more students have not registered with the county or have gone through private schools like Rocky Bayou Christian School or Tall Pines Academy. These schools are generally described as "600" schools, named after the Florida statutes that define their corporate status.

Additionally, when looking at the available data, there are approximately 256 registered home schoolers in the North Zone, 339 registered home schoolers in the Central Zone, and 263 registered home schoolers in the South Zone.

We wish to position ourselves to assist as many of these parents as we can to give their children the benefits of home schooling with a Christian foundation. Students will be required to take Bible courses in the upper elementary through High School and attend weekly chapel and other school activities. We plan to start the school in Fort Walton Beach but not allow ourselves to be limited to one location because we will be using current technology advancements.

MARKETING STRATEGY

We plan to advertise and tell the world we are open for mission work by use of print (to include brochures, newspaper, etc.) and the Web. I plan to spend approximately $2,000.00 per year to advertise.

MINIMUM START UP COSTS

The following table reflects what is expected to start up the mission work for the first 7 months of operation whether students are involved or not. If students can be attracted for the remainder of the year, then the donations or loans would be less. We may be able to attract some students of parents who need help now and could start them with a minimum of staff.

MISSION PLAN EXIT STRATEGY

An evaluation will be completed at the beginning of each year to see if the student load is meeting the demand and to see if we need more donations to end the year without a deficit. If by the end of the third full year our donations plus tuition are not showing we are self-sustaining, Progressive Academy of Technology, Inc. will be evaluated by the Board of Directors to see if we need to begin dissolution procedures. Upon dissolution of this Corporation all unencumbered assets shall be distributed to one or more churches that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19 as subsequently amended.