NBOA produces research reports and thought pieces to help business officers, heads of school and other independent school leaders understand and launch discussions on pressing issues. The white papers frequently draw on NBOA’s data sets and are sometimes produced in collaboration with business partners that serve the independent school community. White papers are available for FREE to NBOA members. Selected white papers are available for nonmembers to purchase. See below for more details.
Email publications@nboa.org or call 202-407-7140.
Financial State of the Industry
BIIS 5-Year Trend Report 2015-2019
This report analyzes 18 indicators of independent schools' financial health over five consecutive fiscal years. Based on data submitted by schools to NBOA's BIIS data collection platform, it is the only research study taken exclusively from the balance sheets of independent schools. An executive summary offers global analysis, concrete takeaways and questions for discussion. Detailed graphs and data highlights provide insight into specific aspects of school operations.
2020
NBOA Members Nonmembers
Free for members | $69 for nonmembers*
Wage and Hour Issues Facing Independent Day and Boarding Schools
Many independent schools struggle to understand and maintain compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, specifically those dealing with the proper classification and compensation of school employees. These laws often do not apply neatly to schools’ needs or diverse workforces, which include employees who work part-time, on contract or on a flexible schedule, or fulfill residential, travel and/or extracurricular duties. Authored by attorneys at Schwartz Hannum PC, this white paper seeks to help school administrators more easily classify these distinct positions.
2019
NBOA Members Nonmembers
Free for members | $39 for nonmembers*
Mergers and Acquisitions
Legal, Financial and Tax Considerations for Independent Schools
As market conditions and demographics change, more schools are considering merging with or acquiring a neighboring independent school. This white paper includes information on nonprofit mergers and acquisitions, suggestions for kickstarting leadership conversations, processes for assessing a potential partner, types of school combinations, and key areas of due diligence, among other insights specific to independent schools. Leaders from three national firms — LearnCollab, Venable and CliftonLarsonAllen — authored the paper, which is framed by introductory remarks by NBOA President and CEO Jeffrey Shields.
2019
NBOA Members Nonmembers
Free for members | $39 for nonmembers*
Key Financial Indicators of Vitality for Independent Schools
BIIS Data Trends 2015-2017
This report, created from an analysis of 2015-2017 trend data from the largest schools in NBOA's Business Intelligence for Independent Schools (BIIS) data collection platform, explores key financial indicators of independent school sustainability and the underlying data points that support them. Case studies of four high-performing schools provide insights into how they achieved their top performance. Harry Bloom, senior vice president, client solutions, at Measuring Success, authored the report.
2018
NBOA Members Nonmembers
Free for members | $49 for nonmembers*
Effects of Tuition Increases on Enrollment Demand
Do tuition increases adversely affect enrollment? Administrative leaders and boards must consider the relationship between these two variables to make confident decisions. NBOA, Measuring Success and ISM collaborated on a study that took a deep dive into this question, exploring the potential impact on schools of different sizes, locations and types.
2017
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