We know that during the years of Covid, alternatives to in-person schooling grew because they had to. Since the reopening of schools post-Covid, many parents have decided to continue homeschooling, rather than sending their children back to large school classes. Another alternative, microschools, has also secured its place in the education landscape.
What is a microschool? Sometimes referred to as “outsourced homeschooling” or as a “modern version of the one-room schoolhouse,” and similar to “learning pods” created during Covid, each microschool will look a little different. It involves a small group of students (usually ranging from 12-120 students total), a school coordinator (often an education professional, but sometimes a parent), teachers, and a student-centric curriculum. The classes are often mixed-age, allowing older students to learn more thoroughly by mentoring and tutoring younger students. Teachers are often called “coaches” or “facilitators,” not teaching the students (lecturing) as much as encouraging the students to learn in whatever style works best for them. The curriculum is often a combination of online learning and face-to-face project-based and experiential learning (hands-on activities).
How are microschools funded? Microschools are private entities, usually funded by curriculum fees. Some states do provide public funding to qualifying microschools. Utah, for example, has recently decided to give up to $8,000/student in scholarships to low-income families whose children attend microschools that have registered as a business and meet all applicable zoning requirements (e.g., not located next to a liquor store).
What are the benefits of microschools? Microschools do not need to satisfy public school curriculum requirements in most cases, especially if they choose not to pursue accreditation. The lesson plans can be designed with the students’ needs and interests in mind. This has both emotional and cognitive benefits. Students build self-confidence and practice soft skills (communication, conflict resolution) as a side effect of a more personalized education experience. Students are more engaged in their learning because of small class sizes and varied curricular approaches. Parents can be much more involved in their children’s education, if they wish. Like students who have been homeschooled (also an unaccredited educational option), the graduates of microschools can qualify for college and university via standardized testing and the qualitative reviews of higher education institutions.
I wish microschools had been “a thing” when my son was in middle and high school. We did find an alternative school that served him well because it had small classes focused on experiential learning, but a microschool might have been a good option too. It will be interesting to see how this type of schooling sustains and develops over time.
