2018-2019
DISCOVERY Education Consulting
Private Post-Secondary School Consultancy
Accreditation & Compliance Guidance
Fort Lee Office 222 Bridge Plaze South Fort Lee, NJ 07024 201-750-1113 Palisades Park Office 7 Broad Avenue Palisades Park, NJ 07650 201-313-1220 www.discoveryeduconsulting.com
About Discovery Fueled by Passion. Driven to Succeed.
OUR HISTORY: WHO WE ARE In 1998, Discovery School opened its doors as a part-time day school, providing young students with the opportunity to train at a higher level, while continuing to pursue their academic aspirations. Over the years, Discovery School has evolved into a post-secondary school consultancy known today as Discovery Education Consulting. Located in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Discovery Education Consulting has recruited the best experienced curriculum developers, accreditation specialists, and agents who have established themselves in the U.S. education market working with many language schools and career schools. Discovery is also running its own English language school, Discovery Learning Center, in Palisades Park and Fort Lee, New Jersey.
DISCOVERY LEARNING CENTER Discovery Learning Center offers a comprehensive program of communicative, English-language courses at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to serve the needs of English language learners. Our academic programs include: Intensive English Program, TOEFL Preparation Program, and Professional English Program. Discovery Learning Center is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) for the period April 2016 through April 2021 and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. CEA is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for English language programs and institutions.
DISCOVERY EDUCATION CONSULTING As a private post-secondary school consultancy, we help institutions seeking to start up or expand their operations. We have a strong background in post secondary education, which has given us the edges as industry experts across the nation. We understand the language of the regulators and we have the ability to offer our clients practical solutions that enables them to launch a new school, expand their school operations, comply to education relations, or simply become more responsible institutions. Please visit our website and feel free to contact us if you have any questions. www.discoveryeducationconsulting.com
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Services At a Glance English Programs We are committed to providing excellent English as a Second Language programs to non-native speakers who are serious about achieving the language proficiency needed to successfully communicate with other English speakers, or simply for their own self-improvement. We recognize that our students come from diverse cultures and academic backgrounds and that every student has different strengths, weaknesses, focuses and needs.
Starting a School If you want to start a new school, the best place to start is to draft a business plan. We have assisted many clients to formulate their business plans thereby making the task of applying for licensure a great deal easier. A well written business plan for your school will incorporate many of the items that are required for a successful application, which is an additional benefit to a prospective school owner.
“We provide a comprehensive and flexible array of customizable services.�
English Programs
Starting a School
SEVIS I-17 & Accreditation
School Partnerships
SEVIS I-17 & Accreditation I-20 SCHOOLS are schools that can enroll students from abroad and issue an I-20 visas (F-1s or M-1s) so an international student may enter the United States. To apply for I-20 status a school must be approved to operate in the state in which it is located and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Once accredited, the school is eligible to apply for I-20 status by submitting a SEVIS I-17 form. We provide a comprehensive and flexible array of fully customizable services to support your school throughout the accreditation and SEVIS I-17 process from basic education on the standards to oversight and management of the preparation process. School Partnerships We have been establishing partnerships with schools in and outside the U.S. to share and leverage the strengths, resources, talents and knowledge of each other in ways that benefit both parties. Our goal is simple: to help our client schools grow with rising customer demand and reach more global markets than ever before. We believe that we can create collaborative, mutually beneficial educational programs, special events, and student exchange programs.
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English Programs
Intensive English Program TOEFL iBT Preparation
Our Mission Mission Statement
Discovery Learning Center (DLC) serves a diverse, foreign-born population for whom English is a second language. This institution strives to realize two primary goals: 1. Improve students’ ability to comprehend the English language; and
Professional English
2. Provide students with both the vocabulary and grammatical structures necessary to become fluent in English.
Goals and Objectives
We believe that this Mission can be most effectively achieved through having students meet the following objectives: 1. Develop competency in the English language; 2. Reach a level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking the English language that allows for effective communication with others; 3. Provide student-centered curriculum and instruction; 4. Support effective teaching and learning through a dedicated and experienced faculty and staff, quality facilities, and up-to-date material and equipment; 5. Strive to achieve a high rate of student retention; 6. Promote student well-being; and 7. Provide activities that support student comprehension of American culture. Discovery Learning Center
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Intensive
Enlgish Program ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE “To have another language is to possess a second soul.” >> SMALL CLASS SIZE Generally, we have 8-15 students per class, as opposed to 15+ students per class, which is often the case of ESL programs at community colleges or universities. Small class size allows you to have more opportunity to receive feedback from your teacher.
>> COURSE LEVELS We offer various course options. There are six levels for the Intensive English Program. The total number of clock hours for each course within the program’s offerings is 180 (10 weeks). IEP100 / IEP200 (Low Beginning & Beginning) IEP300 / IEP400 (Intermediate & High Intermediate) IEP500 / IEP600 (Advanced & High Advanced)
>> TEACHING FACULTY We conduct teacher evaluations every term for quality control of our faculty (4 times a year). Teacher performance is our priority!
>> LOW TUITION, HIGH QUALITY Our tuition is very affordable for the quality of teaching and amenities you will be receiving.
Learn English today. We offer affordable, quality courses! Discovery Learning Center offers a comprehensive program of communicative, English-language courses.
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English Test
TOEFL iBT Prep TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE “Choose your ideal courses based on your interests, schedule, and other personal criteria.”
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Discovery Learning Center offers a variety of classes based upon individual skill level. We get you familiar with the test, teach testtaking strategies, and prepare you for all four sections of the TOEFL (reading, listening, speaking, and writing). Live classroom lectures are supplemented with computer-based simulation tests to help you become familiar with the test and to reinforce classroom instruction.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS
Discovery offers two types of TOEFL iBT preparation programs: Regular Class and Small Groups. There are 4 courses—reading, listening, speaking and writing—and you have choices about how many courses you register for and how you design your own class schedule (days and time). This flexibility will help you choose the right blend of courses to match your study time and style to your personal schedule.
COURSE LEVELS
TP700A (TOEFL Prep I, Beginning) TP700B (TOEFL Prep II, Intermediate) TP700C (TOEFL Prep III, Advanced) TP700D (TOEFL Prep IV, High Advanced)
THE DISCOVERY ADVANTAGE
ONE: Integrated academic skills curriculum, covering all English language skills needed to success on the TOEFL TWO: A comfortable and familiar setting when taking the actual TOEFL iBT test, since we are ETS Authorized TOEFL iBT Center THREE: Affordable tuition and modern and clean computer labs FOUR: The latest TOEFL materials and exams incorporated into our courses with a diagnostic test with instant scoring and feedback
The TOEFL iBT is one the most popular examinations for English and a good TOEFL score is required to gain admission to a college, university, or other academic institution in the U.S.
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English for Business
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IMPROVE YOUR PRACTICAL ENGLISH SKILLS “Lead, speak, and achieve!”
Designed for nonnative English speakers who wish to improve their written and spoken business communication skills.
Two types of business Enlgish programs: Professional English Program and TOEIC Preparation Program
We offer authentic learning materials to help students increase their knowledge of today’s complex global economy while also learning English.
The curriculum is guided by the needs and practices in many different types of real world situations.
ONE: Learn and use a range of practical terms and vocabulary. TWO: Become more fluent to express, discuss, and analyze concepts and ideas in the professional setting. THREE: Recognize and use a wide range of factual text types.
ETS-authorized TOEIC* Test Center Discovery also offers the TOEIC Preparation Program. Our latest practice test materials will help you achieve your target score. *TOEIC: Test of Enlgish for International Communication
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Start
A School
If you want to start a NEW SCHOOL, we always suggest that the best place to start is to draft a business plan. To determine how to achieve your goals, you need to know exactly where you are at the present time, then determine where you want to go and how to get there. We have assisted many clients to formulate their business plans thereby making the task of applying for licensure a great deal easier.
How to Start An Enlgish Language School Language Schools
Vocational Schools
STEP 1
Usually takes 6 months Get approval from your state’s Approval or Licensure Agency.
STEP 2
Usually takes 18 months Seek accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting agency. The school would need to be in operation for at lease two years before it would qualify to apply.
STEP 3 State
License: Discovery Education Consulting’s State License Services include: -Curriculum Development -Documentation Compilation -Application -Site Visit Preparation
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Usually takes 6+ months Apply for approval for attendance by non-immigrant F-1 students. If you want to start an ESL school in the United States, the process is similar to opening a private career school but if you hope to enroll your students from abroad, the process will take you considerably longer. “I-20” schools are schools that can enroll students from abroad and issue an I-20 visas (F-1s or M-1s) so an international students may enter the United States. Most people who wish to start an I-20 issuing English language school usually believe that getting I-20 approval will be quick. To apply for I-20 status, a school must be approved to operate in the state in which it is located and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. The application is an I-17 and you can read the regulations governing the petition for approval at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement website at www.ice.gov/sevis/i17.
“We can help take your ideas and strategies and put them on paper in a well thought-out road map for success. Please feel free to contact us and we can discuss how to get started.”
Vocational Schools You should want to start a private career school that meets students’ needs in the field or profession you are targeting. You are naturally also going to want to do this in the right time frame and at the right cost, in a way that maximizes your financial return on your investment. Since establishing a vocational school is inherently complex and often risky, and since the push for financial return often mandates speedy development, the process should be geared to providing a framework and specific tools for efficiently and predictably reaching your goals.
Type of Schools Beauty Schools
Cosmetology, Esthiology
IT Training Schools
Computer Systems Analyst, Database Administration, Desktop Support State of New Jersey Certification Discovery Learning Center
Health & Medical Training Schools
Physical Therapy, Massage & Bodywork Therapy
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Accreditation & Compliance
Discovery Education Consluting provides a comprehensive and flexible array of fully customizable services to support your school throughout the accreditation process from basic education on the standards to oversight and management of the preparation process. Our professional team suggests strategies to improve compliance of your program, providing the expertise you need to successfully prepare for the accreditation process.
Major Accrediting Agencies CEA / ACCET
(Nationally Recognized)
COE / NACCAS
Accreditation provides a professional judgment regarding the quality of the schools or programs, while also encouraging continual improvement.
“Accreditation is a voluntary process to assure that an entity meets standards established by a group of external experts in a particular field. “
[Certificate of Accreditation] -Discovery Learning Center-
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Accreditation Process Example (CEA*) Application for Eligibility
A site completes the application form and submits required documents, including curricular documents, a list of faculty and staff with training and experience, information about student services, and the administrative structure.
Workshop
CEA invites a site that meets eligibility requirements to attend a 2-day workshop. Participants learn more about the standards, receive guidance on how to complete the self-study report, and get an overview of the site visit and review for accreditation decision at the CEA office.
Self-study Plan
One month after the workshop, the site submits a plan for its selfstudy. The plan includes a timeline for the self-study, a target for the site visit, a list of committees and members.
Self-study Report
The CEA self-study is a reflective activity. A site explains how it believes it meets each of the 44 CEA standards, documents compliance, evaluates how well it meets the standards, and recommends areas of improvement, if any. CEA provides a template for the report as well as requirements for submission.
Site Visit
A three-person team reads the self-study report prior to conducting a 3-day on-site visit. The visit includes class visits, a tour of facilities, and interviews with administrators, faculty, and students in order to verify the contents of the self-study report. The review team report includes its findings related to each of the 44 CEA standards. The site receives the report and writes a response to the findings.
Review by the Commission
The 13-member CEA commission uses the self-study report, the review team report, the response from the site, and a review of finances to make its accreditation decision. The Commission judges the site based on its compliance with the CEA Standards. For initial accreditation, the Commission may grant 1-year or 5-year accreditation. For re-accreditation, the Commission may grant 1-year or 10-year accreditation.
*CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation) is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
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SEVP Certification
What is Form I-20?
SEVP Certification
SEVP-certified schools, also known as I-20 SCHOOLS, are schools that can enroll students from abroad and issue a Form I-20 for F-1 or M-1 visas so an international student may enter the United States. The US Department of Homeland Security is in charge of international student admissions and controls the process though the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Initial SEVP Application
The Form I-20 (also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student StatusFor Academic and Language Students) is a US Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), document issued by SEVP-certified schools that provides supporting information on a student’s F or M status. The Form I-20 is only for F-1, F-2, M-1, and M-2 statuses.
>> STEP1
Fees
>> STEP3
I-17 filing Fee: $1,700 Site-visit: $655 per campus
Application Process (Form I-17)
Get approval from your state’s Approval or Licensure Agency (e.g. BPSS in New York)
>> STEP2
Seek accreditation from a nationally recognize accrediting agency. The school would need to be in operations for one or two years before it would qualify to apply.
Apply for approval for attendance by non-immigrant students (Submission of SEVIS I-17 & PDSO/DSO nomination). You can read the regulations governing the petition for approval at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement website at https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i17.
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SEVP Recertification >> IS YOUR SCHOOL OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH SEVIS REGULATIONS?
SEVP I-17 SEVIS I-20
SEVP is improving its enforcement techniques, and schools that are out-of-compliance are being visited, audited, and shut down by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. If your school is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant alien students, you must be in compliance and be ready to apply for recertification and SEVIS II. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is currently conducting Out-of-Cycle Reviews of ESL & Intensive English Program schools (both stand-alone and combined programs are subject to review) to ensure compliance with the Accreditation of English Language Training Programs Act, Public Law 111-306.
“Our team can help your institution prepare a timely response to the evidence request, which must be submitted within 30 days of an institution’s e-mail receipt of a Review Notice.”
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Curriculum Development
W
e have a strong background in post secondary education, which has given us the edges as industry experts across the nation. We understand the language of the regulators, and we have the ability to offer our clients practical solutions that enables them to launch a new school, expand their school operations, comply to education relations, or simply become more responsible institutions.
Curriculum Guide Why Discovery? 1. Our experts are experienced. 2. Our network of professional include: a. Educators and Teachers b. Financial Planners & CPAs c. Attorneys
In order to ensure positive student outcomes, academic institutions must offer the best curriculum available, and this curriculum
must be reviewed and revised on a regular basis. The Discovery team can demystify this process and help you and your faculty design and develop programs that provide students with the training and education they need to succeed. We have extensive experience developing and reviewing curriculum documents and course materials for the Intensive English Program (IEP), TOEFL iBT Preparation Program, Professional English Program, and many others.
3. We provide individualized services. 4. We include you in every step of the process. 5. Our planning is precise and accurate. 6. Our benchmarks: a. Materialize your vision and mission b. Assist you with regulations/compliance c. Support you in meeting your goals
Our Curriculum Guidebook An effective curriculum guide book should include, but is not limited to, the following contents: Curriculum Philosophy and Methodology Curriculum Review Policy and Procedure Scope and Sequence of the Program of Study Textbooks and Learning Resources Course Descriptions, Objectives, Learning Outcomes Proficiency Scale (for Language Schools)
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DISCOVERY Education Consulting
www.discoveryenglish.org
www.discovery-learning.com
www.discoveryeduconsulting.com