Overview of the Schools Insurance Program from Cochrane & Company
Cochrane & Company offers a targeted Schools Insurance program designed for independent agents and brokers who need a flexible market for private and specialized schools. This program helps you place liability, property, crime and supplemental coverages for institutions such as private K–12 schools, vocational and technical schools, tutoring centers and other learning operations. Underwriting and policy forms are structured to address the unique exposures schools face — from student injury and teacher errors to property and equipment breakdown.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
The program is a strong fit for:
- Private elementary schools
- Junior high/middle schools
- High schools
- Private technical schools
- Trade schools
- Vocational schools that offer curriculums that are specialized and lead to job-specific certification
- Learning centers
- Tutoring operations
- Charter schools in business five or more years will be considered
Typical accounts include owner-operated private schools, specialty trade and certification programs, and small- to mid-size campus operations. The program generally prefers operations with defined student supervision policies, reasonable building code compliance, and established hiring/screening practices for staff.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Commercial General Liability and related liability protections are structured for school exposures and educator risks:
- Primary Limits up to $3,000,000 Occurrence/Aggregate
- Errors and Omissions Coverage Part for Teachers
- $5,000 Medical Payments Coverage - Included
- Sexual and Physical Abuse Coverage - Included $25,000 Per Claim/$50,000 Aggregate
- Excess or Umbrella Limits up to $25,000,000
- No deductible required
Property coverages can be tailored to the school’s needs:
- Building
- Business Personal Property
- Business Income
- Basic, Broad, or Special Form
- Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value
- Equipment Breakdown
- Food Spoilage
- Accounts Receivable
- Electronic Data Processing
- Outside Signs
- Valuable Papers
Crime coverages are available for both inside and outside premises loss exposures:
* Theft of Money and Securities
* Robbery or Safe Burglary of Other Property
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
This program is administered by Cochrane & Company as an MGA. Carrier availability varies by account; minimum premiums and final terms are account-specific. Agents should be prepared to provide standard school underwriting information including enrollment numbers, staff counts, facility construction and protection details, student supervision procedures, and any incident history. Note: admitted status is not listed (No States); consult Cochrane underwriting for placement options and filing status in a particular state.
Territories and Availability
The Schools Insurance program is available in the following states:
AK, CA, ID, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, UT, WA, WY. If you have accounts near these states or multi-state operations, speak with underwriting about eligibility and scope of coverage.
Why Work With Cochrane & Company on Schools Insurance
Cochrane & Company positions this program to give agents a market that understands school-specific exposures and offers flexible limits and built-in educator protections. Strengths include access to higher primary limits, built-in abuse coverage, teacher E&O options, and broad property forms with equipment breakdown and valuable papers coverage. The underwriting team works with agents to structure layered liability and excess placements when larger limits are needed.
Example Accounts That Fit the Program
- Example 1: A private day school with 350 students, modern sprinklered buildings, background-checked staff and a modest after-school program seeking GL with teacher E&O and $1M/$2M limits.
- Example 2: A vocational training center providing certificate programs with specialized equipment that needs building, BPP, EDP and equipment breakdown coverage on a special form basis plus crime protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of school operations are a good fit for this program?
The program is best for private K–12 schools, trade and technical schools, vocational programs that lead to certification, tutoring centers and established charter schools (typically five+ years in business). Each account is evaluated for student supervision, staff screening and physical protection.
What liability limits and educator protections are available?
Primary liability limits are available up to $3,000,000 occurrence/aggregate with excess/umbrella capacity up to $25,000,000. The program includes teacher Errors & Omissions and built-in sexual and physical abuse coverage with sublimits noted on the policy.
Are property and equipment breakdown coverages included?
Yes. Property options include building, business personal property, business income and forms from basic to special. Equipment breakdown and electronic data processing coverages are available and can be added to protect specialized school equipment.
How do I submit an account and what underwriting information is required?
Submit a completed application and loss history. Underwriters typically request enrollment and staff counts, facility construction and fire protection details, student supervision policies, vendor contracts, and background check procedures. Minimum premiums and final terms vary by account.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.