Tips for Getting a January Contract

A January contract refers to a contract obtained in January for the remainder of the school year. As schools often face staffing shortages or changing needs, January can be a crucial time for school contractors to secure contracts that will keep their business growing OR get their journey as a contractor started.

Here are some tips to help you land that next opportunity:

Tip 1: Work "Warm" by Finding Schools with Vacancies

Warm leads are schools where you know there’s already a need, and they may be easier to approach and come with a greater return on time investment. The key to securing a January contract is finding schools that still have staffing vacancies as opposed to spending time trying to contact every possible school. If possible, try and identify schools with unfilled positions—this is your chance to step in and offer your services. Research district job boards or network with other professionals in the education space to get your leads. 

Tip 2: Don’t Be Deterred by Past RFP Schools—Contact the Special Education Director

RFP DISCLAIMER-not every state utilizes this process.  If you've never heard this acronym before, go ahead and move on to tip 3 :).

Schools that typically put out a Request for Proposal (RFP), may still have a need, so don’t be discouraged by this process. Contact the Special Education (SPED) director directly to ask if there are any immediate vacancies or needs. Sometimes, SPED directors can open an RFP or piggyback off another district’s contract if their own needs aren’t being met. Don’t hesitate to inquire—worse case, you learn when their RFP for the next school year opens.

Tip 3: Be Prepared to Move Quickly

When you make that first call, be ready to provide all the necessary details immediately, which is something that's a little different than calling over the summer. Have your rate, start date, and FTE (full-time equivalent) availability ready to share. This time of year, schools often have urgent needs and may be looking for quick solutions. If you can present clear and efficient information from the start, you’ll have a better chance of securing the contract.

Tip 4: Understand School Needs Early On

In January, schools often have compensatory needs that can quickly max out a provider’s capacity. It’s essential to ask detailed questions about the scope of the work and understand the full extent of the services required. This will ensure that you’re prepared for the workload and can negotiate terms that align with your availability and expertise OR you can hire an additional provider to take it on! 

Tip 5: Follow Up if the School Doesn’t Have a Need

Even if a school doesn’t have a need at the moment, you can still build a relationship for future opportunities. Ask when it would be appropriate to follow up for the next school year. A sample script could be:
"Wonderful. I’m so glad your needs are met! When is a good time to follow up regarding next year and your needs? I want to be sure we connect should you all have a contract need."
This shows your commitment and proactive attitude, keeping the door open for future opportunities.

Need Support in School Contracting?
If you’re looking for more guidance on securing contracts or hiring on other providers to staff additional needs, check out my resources. We offer tools, training, and coaching to help you regardless at where you're at in your business journey. 

Go get 'em!
❤️ Elise