National Microschooling Center's Thursday Bulletin

Hello Microschooling Community!

More microschools opened their doors for the school year this week, some for their first year ever, and nothing makes us happier than recalling their first interactions with us from their very first steps toward creating the microschools they just launched.

And this was a good week for microschools indeed. An exciting group of familiar founders dominated the 2026 class of Yass Prize Contenders. Plenty of positive news coverage around the country. And most importantly, we are hearing from and about so many happy families all over the country, many brand new to nontraditional education.

In this edition: The above stories, Microschool Weekly Schedules, Meet Alex Roosenburg and Book Coupon Code for Members, plus more!

Microschools in the News

Back to School Time always seems to feature healthy news coverage about microschools, and this year the Center is grateful as always to add useful, positive context to these stories that many new to our movement will read.

K12 Dive’s feature yesterday, What You Need to Know About Microschools, does a good job breaking down the essentials and will be helpful explaining to the many people who may be asking you.

Congratulations to the 2026 Yass Prize Microschool Contenders! The Yass Prize just announced its 26 Contenders for the $1M grand prize (and lots of major prizes for finalists) and we are thrilled to share that this year’s group is rich in microschools. In fact, most of them are microschools, read about them here. Congrats to both the Yass organization and this brilliant group of founders:

Cornerstone Christian Academy (NC), Creative Minds Microschool (NC), DePaul School (FL), Flourish Education (AZ), Happy Hands Education Center (OK), Indiana Charter Microschool Collaborative (IN), Regina Caeli Academies (multistate), Salt & Light Academy for Boys (PA), Star Labs (FL), Valor Education (TX), TriPoint School (TX), Wakanyeja Ki Tokeyahci Wounspe Oti (Children First Learning Center, SD).

And Virginia’s Richmond Magazine is impressed with the number of microschools it is hearing about in its area, and while the magazine may not completely get microschooling yet, we sure love seeing this kind of coverage in a popular local outlet where most people don’t have any direct experience with us yet.

What Weekly Schedule Do Microschools Use?

Don Soifer’s new analysis of Microschools’ Varying Weekly Schedules shows most (64%) run full-time, defined for research purposes as 4+ days/week and 4+hours/day. Of the rest, half offer part-time/hybrid schedules, and half offer their families a choice between the two. Interestingly, these proportions are exactly the same in states without school choice programs and states where microschool families are able to participate in school choice programs. Look for complete comparison analysis between school choice and non-school-choice states to be published here soon.

Meet the Team: Alex Roosenburg

If you haven't attended one of Alex's office hours yet, you are missing out! Alex Roosenburg provides resources and supports for microschool founders and their teams across the country! An accomplished microschool founder herself, Alex is committed to helping founders every step of the way!

Hot Topic: September Book Talk with Mickey Revenaugh

The latest memorable book about microschools, School’s Out: Why Families Are Choosing Unconventional Education, by veteran innovation expert Mickey Revenaugh, offers lots the microschooling community will value. “Microschools by their very nature embody the ‘let a thousand flowers bloom’ phase of education innovation,” the book explains. “Their essential smallness runs counter to the notion of scale, a holy grail in certain education innovation circles.” Read an excerpt from School’s Out here on the Center website.

And join us Tuesday, September 1 at 4pm PT/7pm ET for a discussion with the author - details and registration link here.

The book can now be purchased through Johns Hopkins University Press, NMC Members use Promo Code HTWN to get a 30% discount

Access Point: All the Need-to-Know info about Learning Tools and Providers

Considering learning tools, curriculum or other services for your microschool this year? Then you won’t want to miss the Access Point, the ultimate place for gathering discounts, deals and info!

Events You Need to Know About

Take a look for virtual trainings, conferences, local meetups and more!

Register for any event here!

Center Meetings & Office Hours

Virtual Office Hours, Currently Operating Founders, Thursday, August 13th | 3pm PT/6pm ET

Join Alex for monthly conversations about struggles, joys, and other general support for running your microschool. We can all work together to suggest resources, celebrate wins, and create a nationwide community of school leaders.

Register here!

Virtual Office Hours, Prelaunch Founders, Monday, August 17th | 3pm PT/6pm ET

This is an open session for any Microschool founders in the ideation or pre-launch phase. Alex will lead conversations, answer questions, and provide help as you decide on your next steps in your process!

Register here!

Center Cohorts

Virtual High School Cohort: Monday, August 17th | 4pm PT/7pm ET

For founders leading high school age students and for founders considering expanding to High School. Please come and join for discussions, insights, and any questions you might have! Email Dr. Flynn at erin@microschoolingcenter.org to learn more!

Have a question? Want to share an idea or resource? We love hearing from you, reach out any time!

Ashley & Don Soifer 

and the team of the National Microschooling Center

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