Schools Insurance Solutions for Educational Institutions

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Aerial view of neatly parked yellow school buses in Mound, MN on a sunny day.
Credit: pexels.com, Aerial view of neatly parked yellow school buses in Mound, MN on a sunny day.

As an educational institution, finding the right insurance solution can be a daunting task. Schools insurance can provide financial protection against unforeseen events, such as natural disasters or accidents.

Schools insurance policies can be tailored to meet the specific needs of educational institutions, including coverage for property damage, liability, and workers' compensation.

Many schools insurance policies include coverage for educational equipment and supplies, which can be a significant expense for institutions. This can help protect against loss or damage to valuable assets.

Schools can also benefit from liability coverage, which can help protect against claims of negligence or accidents on school premises.

Insurance Coverages for Schools

Schools can benefit from various insurance coverages to protect against potential risks and liabilities.

Student Accident Insurance is a valuable coverage that schools can offer to parents of students, providing additional protection against medical expenses resulting from accidental injury to their child.

This plan is designed to assist with deductibles and co-insurance costs for those with existing insurance, and provide benefits for those without insurance in case of accidental injury.

Credit: youtube.com, 4 Typical Insurance Coverages for Schools

The basic insurance plan covers participation in interscholastic sports, with the exception of football, which requires additional coverage for football-related injuries.

Parents of students participating in school football programs can purchase this additional coverage to ensure their child is protected against medical expenses resulting from football-related injuries.

Applications for Student Accident Insurance should be mailed to the address listed in the insurance brochure, not to the school or district.

Liability and Cyber Protection

Cyber attacks can happen to any school, at any time, making cyber protection a crucial aspect of school insurance. Schools can be held liable for data breaches, which can result in significant financial losses.

Schools must also protect against physical harm to students and staff. For example, a school's failure to maintain a safe playground can lead to accidents and injuries, which can result in costly lawsuits.

Liability insurance can help schools cover the costs of these types of incidents. By having the right insurance coverage, schools can provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff to learn and work.

EPLI

Two friends hugging outside a school building on a sunny day, both wearing backpacks.
Credit: pexels.com, Two friends hugging outside a school building on a sunny day, both wearing backpacks.

EPLI provides protection for schools from claims of violating employee rights. This type of insurance is usually a separate policy or can be added to school board liability coverage.

There are two types of EPLI: 1st party and 3rd party. The main difference between them is who makes the claim.

1st party EPLI covers a school or school district from claims made by an employee. This type of coverage is essential to protect schools from costly lawsuits.

1st party EPLI covers claims such as wrongful dismissal, discharge or termination, and retaliation. It also covers the loss of private employment information and employment discrimination.

Some common claims covered by 1st party EPLI include:

  • Wrongful dismissal, discharge or termination
  • Wrongful failure or refusal to employ or promote
  • Sexual or other workplace harassment
  • The loss of certain private employment information
  • Employment discrimination including age, gender, race, color and national origin resulting from disparate treatment
  • Retaliation
  • Violation of the Equal Pay Act or Family Medical Leave Act

This type of insurance can help schools avoid costly lawsuits and protect their reputation.

Cyber Liability and Privacy Crisis Management

Cyber liability insurance can protect schools and school districts from losses due to cyber attacks, covering costs such as legal services, defense costs, and notification expenses.

A large red brick building with a clock tower
Credit: pexels.com, A large red brick building with a clock tower

This type of insurance can be purchased as a standalone policy or as part of a school's liability coverage. First-party coverage is automatically included, covering costs associated with an attack on a school's computer systems or network.

Third-party coverage, on the other hand, covers claims made by clients or vendors who have been impacted by an attack on a school's system or network.

Certain positions within a school or school district may require an insurance bond, such as the treasurer or assistant treasurer.

Insurance Process and Costs

The cost of insuring a school can vary greatly, ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 per year for most schools and school districts.

The price of a school's insurance policy depends on several factors, including the number of students, teachers, past claims history, budget, and the value of the building.

Schools with older buildings or in less densely populated towns tend to be cheaper to insure compared to newer or larger schools in busier towns or cities.

Workers' Compensation

Credit: youtube.com, What Is Workers Compensation Insurance? [Coverage & Cost]

Workers' compensation is a must-have for schools and school districts, as it covers employees' medical expenses and lost wages following a workplace injury or illness, while also protecting the school or school district with coverage from employee-related lawsuits.

This coverage is a legal requirement of almost all businesses and public entities in Massachusetts.

Schools and school districts typically need workers' compensation coverage to fulfill their legal obligations and ensure the well-being of their employees.

What to Expect in the Quoting Process

The quoting process for school or school district insurance can be a lengthy one, taking anywhere from a month to a month and a half to complete.

Most agencies will provide numerous forms and paperwork for the school or school district to fill out regarding their budget, assets, population served, and many other important factors. We would handle this paperwork for you and set up an in-person meeting to check out the space and get a better gauge of the school's expectations from their insurance policy.

Blind student engaged in classroom discussion with teacher. Inclusive education setting.
Credit: pexels.com, Blind student engaged in classroom discussion with teacher. Inclusive education setting.

To get started, we would need to collect information such as budgets, claim history, statement of value, construction occupancy protection exposure, updated schedules for vehicles or equipment, contents limit, list of drivers, and accurate information for all vehicles used by the school.

Here's a breakdown of the key information we would need to collect:

  • Budgets
  • Claim history/loss runs
  • Statement of value - list of all buildings and locations
  • Construction Occupancy Protection Exposure (COPE)
  • Updated schedules for any vehicles or equipment
  • Contents limit
  • List of drivers - License numbers, dates of birth, claim history
  • Accurate information for all vehicles used by the school

After gathering all the required information, we would send it to the insurance carrier's underwriters to review. This can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks, depending on whether they require more information than what we already provided.

School Insurance Costs

School insurance costs can vary greatly depending on several factors. The number of students and teachers, past claims history, and the value of the building all play a significant role in determining the cost.

A general estimate for most schools and school districts is an insurance policy costing between $100,000 to $150,000 a year. However, this cost can be lower for schools with older buildings or located in less densely populated towns.

Some schools with newer or larger buildings in busier towns or cities can be much more expensive to insure.

See what others are reading: Example of Internal Failure Cost

Student Accident Insurance

Man in safety gear near a vehicle outside a school in Agde, France.
Credit: pexels.com, Man in safety gear near a vehicle outside a school in Agde, France.

Student accident insurance is a customizable coverage that offers protections for schools K-12, districts, or other eligible organizations that need coverage for their students and volunteers during school-sponsored events and activities.

This coverage is particularly important for schools holding sporting events, traveling for field trips, school gym activities, or students engaged in work-study programs.

Student accident insurance can provide additional coverage for those with existing insurance, assist with deductibles and co-insurance costs, or provide benefits for those without insurance in case of accidental injury.

The basic insurance plan covers participation in interscholastic sports, with the exception of football, for which additional coverage may be purchased.

Parents of students participating in school football programs may need to purchase extra coverage for football-related injuries.

Applications for student accident insurance should be mailed to the address contained in the insurance brochure, not to the school or district.

Insurance Programs and Risk Management

Schools need insurance coverages to protect against various risks. Schools and school districts typically include the following coverages: general liability, professional liability, property insurance, and workers' compensation.

General liability insurance protects schools from accidents on school property. This coverage also includes student accidents during school-sponsored activities.

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, protects schools against lawsuits alleging errors or omissions in the performance of professional services.

Here's an interesting read: Cpa Errors and Omissions Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is professional liability insurance for a school?

Protect your school's directors and officers from personal financial loss due to lawsuits related to their job performance with professional liability insurance

What is liability insurance in education?

Liability insurance in education protects schools from financial losses due to lawsuits over negligence, personal injury, and other claims. It can also cover medical malpractice and payments for injured students and athletes with additional endorsements.

How much is professional liability insurance for a teacher?

Professional liability insurance for teachers starts at $21.08 per month or $229 per year, with costs varying by state and customization options. Learn more about how to customize your policy to fit your needs.

Lee Kuhn

Senior Copy Editor

Lee Kuhn has spent over two decades refining his craft as a copy editor, honing a keen eye for detail and a passion for precise language. His expertise extends to a variety of fields, with a particular focus on the intricate world of Finnish banking. Lee's rigorous approach to editing ensures that every piece he touches is not only free of errors but also clear and compelling.

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