What is SEGL? The School for Ethics and Global Leadership is an independent semester school in Washington, DC for intellectually motivated high school juniors. Our rigorous academic program focuses on ethical thinking skills, leadership development, and international studies. Each semester students from public and private schools around the country join us for a challenging and rewarding experience that will change their lives, and the lives of those they touch, forever.

Below you will find answers to some frequently asked questions about SEGL. We've divided the questions and answers into sections for parents, sending school administrators, guidance counselors, and advisors, donors, and supporters. We've also included a section with questions about this site and our project. Prospective students can find more information about attending SEGL on our Admissions, Academics, and Student Life pages.

Answers for Parents

Will SEGL help my child’s college search?

Yes. SEGL is a chance for your child to show that she or he can do advanced academic work alongside the best students from public and private schools around the country. SEGL also provides individualized college counseling, and your child will have the opportunity to visit many of the area's top institutions, including Georgetown, George Washington, American, and Howard universities. In addition, your child's time at SEGL may lead to a unique college essay. Most important, SEGL will prepare your daughter or son for college itself: boarding with a roommate, managing time, living away from family, and doing exciting intellectual work.

Who will be teaching my child?

An experienced, highly-motivated faculty with degrees from institutions like Columbia, Duke, Wesleyan, Haverford, and Wellesley. Our academic dean, Gray Pedersen, chaired the History Department at Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington for many years. Our Science Teacher, Heather Haines, recently won a $150,000 Knowles Foundation Fellowship for promising young science teachers. Our Director, Noah Bopp, is a graduate of the prestigious Klingenstein Private School Leadership program at Teacher's College, Columbia University. Your child will be in good hands!

How can I be sure that my child's transition home will be smooth?

It is critical to our mission that your child returns home better able to create positive change in our world. Therefore, we start working to manage the academic and interpersonal transition home before the semester even begins. We communicate with sending school administrators and faculty to align our curriculum, and encourage students to update their teachers on their progress during the semester. While in DC, students also plan a capstone service leadership/social entrepreneurship organization in their local community that allows them to put their new leadership skills to work right away. And your child will connect with leaders in her or his local community who can serve as mentors/resources after returning home.

What is a weekly schedule like?

Click here to view a sample weekly schedule. Note that unforseen opportunities may change this schedule somewhat.

Is SEGL a safe place to send my child?

Yes! First, your child will be safe because we chose SEGL’s location with safety as a top priority. Our neighborhood is one of the safest in DC. Second, your child will be safe because we are very strict when it comes to knowing where each of our students is at all times. Students here follow a strict set of whereabouts guidelines, and may not leave the dorm after hours. Third, your child will be safe because we will never forget how precious she or he is to you, to our school community, and to the world. This means we will always be vigilant, even when it seems like we don’t have to be. Please contact us with any specific safety concerns as the semester continues.

What about terrorism?

Though it is impossible to remove completely the threat of terrorism from any location, we hope such fears will not prevent your daughter or son from a life-changing opportunity to learn with us. SEGL will take all reasonable and foreseeable precautions to minimize any risk to student safety. Students will receive a copy of our emergency procedures before they arrive on campus, and we will review these procedures with them on the first day. Please contact us if you have further concerns.

Does SEGL have a political affiliation?

Though political leaders from across the spectrum will meet with SEGL students throughout the semester, the school is not aligned with any political group and does not seek to promote a political agenda. Our firm belief is that ethical challenges are not solved with sound bites, but with honest reflection and dialogue that includes as many differing perspectives as possible. With this in mind, we strive consistently to provide a balanced spectrum of political ideas to our students. We will challenge your child to think deeply and critically, but we will not attempt to prescribe the outcome of her or his thinking.

How will I contact my child?

All students will have access to email every day, and we allow cell phones to be used on campus at designated times and places. We also welcome visitors (particularly after the first two weeks and before the final two weeks of school). Please call ahead so we know you are coming!

Will our family be able to afford SEGL?

We are working very hard to ensure that the answer is yes. A semester of tuition, plus room and board, is $22,490. Additional expenses for insurance, travel, optional off-board meals, and souvenirs vary widely.

Financial aid for all of these expenses is available, and we urge all students, even those who cannot afford full tuition, to apply. Please contact us if you are concerned about funding your child’s SEGL education. We will make every effort to ensure that if your child is offered admission, she or he will be able to attend.

How do I apply for financial aid?

The priority deadline to apply for financial aid is March 15. Funds may still be available after that date; those applying after the deadline may not receive as comprehensive an award. In order to apply for financial aid, parents/guardians must fill out the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) through the National Association of Independent School's (NAIS) School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid. In the application, please enter SEGL's school code: 5063. If you have already applied for 2010-2011 financial aid through the NAIS SSS at another school you do not need to fill out a new PFS; instead, you must fill out an Additional School Request (ASR) form (available at the SSS site) in order to give SEGL access to your financial aid application. If you have any questions about financial aid, please do not hesitate to contact us at admissions@schoolforethics.org. Awards will be mailed with (or soon after) acceptance letters.

How do I know that SEGL is a reputable institution? Why should I grant academic credit for SEGL ?

SEGL is new, but it is staffed and supported by experienced educators. Our academic program is highly rigorous and college preparatory, and we offer several AP or AP-level courses. Dozens of prestigious schools around the country have already vetted and approved our curriculum. And after a rigorous application process, we have earned 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS. Please don’t hesitate to contact us; we’d be happy to fax or send information about our academic program and letters from those who support us!

Won’t SEGL be disruptive to my student’s educational experience?

SEGL takes great pride in working with home schools to make a student’s transition home effective and academically smooth. Students will return with new ideas, new perspectives, and new goals, which we hope you will view as a great asset to your school. They will not return home three chapters behind in history, two chapters behind in algebra, and four chapters ahead (and bored!) in Spanish.

How can my school become an official "sending school" for SEGL?

There are many advantages to becoming an SEGL sending school. Twenty-two excellent schools in sixteen states and DC have already signed on. Click here to download a short FAQ sheet.

How close is SEGL to opening its doors?

We will welcome our first group of students on August 29, 2009! Check out our News page for the latest information. On that page you can also sign up for insider email updates!

How do I become a teacher at SEGL?

Thanks for your interest in joining us! We have hired most of our full-time faculty but may have part-time positions available. Please contact us at info@schoolforethics.org for more information.

How can I support SEGL?

Thanks for your interest in supporting us! Please visit the Support SEGL page to find out more. At this stage, we are especially grateful for financial contributions—every dollar brings us closer to our goal.

Answers for Donors

How can I support SEGL financially?

Thank you for your interest in donating to SEGL! There are three ways to donate, and you can read about them on our Support SEGL page.

Can I donate online?

Yes! Click on the icon below, or visit the Support SEGL page for details on donating through networkforgood.org, a well-known nonprofit that processes thousands of charitable donations every day. You can find much more information, including a list of FAQs, at the networkforgood.org site.

I'd like to make a recurring donation. Can I do this at www.networkforgood.org?

We are especially grateful for recurring donations! Network for Good accepts recurring donations.

Will a portion of my donation go to Network for Good?

Network for Good passes along a 3% processing fee from credit card companies for all donations. (In fact, credit card companies charge ALL merchants a similar or greater fee for each credit card transaction. It would cost us at least 3% to process your credit card donation ourselves!) Network for Good allows you to cover the cost of this fee when you make your donation.

Is my online donation secure?

Yes. We use Network for Good, a nationally recognized leader in charitable donation processing, to facilitate our online donations. You can find out more at networkforgood.org.

You used to use JustGive.org to process online contributions. Why did you switch?

We switched to Network for Good because the service is now free to set up, because Network for Good accepts recurring donations, and because it does not require donors to register before giving. However, you can still donate to SEGL at the JustGive.org web site.

I have a question about online donations that isn't answered here. Who can I contact?

There is a page of donor FAQs on the Network for Good web site; you can also contact them via email. For SEGL-related questions, write to pledge@schoolforethics.org.

Can I donate something other than money to SEGL?

Yes! To donate appreciable securities, please contact us for instructions. We are also always on the lookout for computer, copying, and other technology; for new or gently used furniture; and, of course, for volunteers! And if you have property in DC that we could use for living and/or teaching space, please contact SEGL Director Noah Bopp at noah.bopp@schoolforethics.org. All contributions of property are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Who designed the SEGL web site?

Michael Williams, an experienced web designer and current law student, created the SEGL web page in August, 2006. To contact Michael, please send us an email and we will forward your message to him.

Who are the students pictured on the web site?

The students pictured on the SEGL website attended the Duke University Talent Identification Program’s Global Dialogues Institute in 2004, 2005, and 2006. SEGL's Program Coordinator, Noah Bopp, created GDI in 2002. Neither Duke TIP or its GDI program are affiliated with SEGL. All photos are used with permission.