National Microschooling Center's Thursday Bulletin
Hello microschooling friends!
This week, we’re thinking about momentum… and how fast it moves when the right people are in the loop.
If you’ve ever read something here and thought, “someone else needs to see this,” consider this your nudge to hit forward. The microschooling movement doesn’t grow in isolation, it grows because founders, educators, and ecosystem builders share what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s possible. Every forwarded newsletter pulls someone new into the conversation… and that’s how this movement continues to bloom!
Major momentum happened this week in Iowa for microschools, with new legislation dramatically loosening compliance requirements that for the first time allow fully nontraditional microschools, read below for more.
And if you’re looking to go deeper this week, the Center’s Training Institute is where that shift happens. It’s designed by actual microschool founders for real-world microschooling: the behind-the-scenes decisions, the operational muscle, the impact strategies that don’t always make it into headlines but make all the difference on the ground. Whether you’re just getting started or refining what you’ve built, it’s there when you’re ready (but we definitely recommend checking it out sooner rather than later as you make your next year plans!).
So read, forward, and if something here sparks that next step for you… take it.
In this week’s edition: A giveaway a day next week (why? Because we like you!), important Iowa breakthrough, we’re talking Yass Prize, new professional cohort about running nonprofits and so much more!
Legislative Updates - Major Moves for
Iowa Microschools
Iowa’s ESA school choice program was widely celebrated when it became law 3 years ago. But because the program excluded microschools as options for families to choose for the program, the Hawkeye State seemed to be missing out on a trend taking off around the rest of the country.
Iowa’s legislature this week passed an important provision that represents probably the most important development in the state for microschools yet. The new measure, contained in a larger education spending bill, lifts restrictions that had previously limited microschools operating as independent private instruction providers to serving four unrelated children or less, and restricted their ability to charge tuition. This development is expected to finally permit microschools to participate in Iowa’s celebrated school choice programs.
Teacher Appreciation Week Gift Card Giveaway!
Teacher Appreciation Week is rolling in next week, and we’re turning up the volume for the founders, leaders, facilitators, guides, curators, and everyone in your microschool building something bold, personal, and wildly impactful every single day.
If you’re part of the microschool movement, this one’s for you.
We’re dropping a Teacher Appreciation Week gift card giveaway, (and the only way in is through this newsletter)! We are giving away one $30 gift card every day next week, all you have to do is enter here to win!
Know someone who wants in? Forward this newsletter to them, because around here, appreciation is a community-wide thing!
Yass Briefing
Are you interested in learning more about the Yass prize, the national awards program for innovative education that has brought financial awards and national recognition to many microschools, including several of our Center members, in the past few years?Join Yass Prize Chief Program Officer Caroline Allen and members of the Center team for an informational webinar for Center member microschools Thursday, May 7th at 4pm PT/7pm ET to learn more about the Yass Prize, STOP principles, how to apply and what the network is all about.
Members, register in the member portal to join as a panelist and interact with the Yass team!
Hot Topic Webinar: Supporting Students with Dyslexia: What Every Microschool Founder Needs to Know
Join us, along with Kait Feriante, Co-Founder & CEO of Redwood Literacy and Co-Founder of Redwood Day School, on Wednesday, May 6th at 4pm PT/7pm ET, for an empowering, research-informed webinar designed for microschool founders, leaders and facilitators who are ready to deepen their understanding of dyslexia and how to support students who experience it.
*We do not record our webinars. We highly encourage you to attend to access the content and get your questions answered.
Members: RSVP in the member portal to gain panelist access to get question priority and interact with our guest speakers!
Nonmembers: Register here to attend this upcoming webinar!
Self-Directed Education and the Tools to Share
its Value
North Carolina microschool founder Tomis Parker, also cofounder of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education, in his new article on the Center’s News and Articles page, What Microschools Cultivate, and How We Show It, writes about the question, “How do microschools capture and communicate the depth of learning happening in environments where learning doesn't follow a single script?” An answer, or rather tool to get to any number of answers, he discusses is Prism, a learning documentation and portfolio platform he and colleagues built specifically for microschools, described in this thought-provoking piece.
Successful Start Ups: Nonprofit & 501(c)(3)
In this free, informative cohort exclusively for Center members, join governance expert Becky Wilmoth of Nonprofit Ed Solutions, as we navigate all things nonprofit and 501(c)(3). Sessions will cover a variety of helpful topics including foundational “Why Nonprofit?” info, creating nonprofit bylaws, state-level nonprofit incorporation, building a successful board, state & 501(c)(3) compliance, and more. Templates and opportunities for lots of Q & A will be included.
This cohort is limited to 15 participants. In order to reserve your spot, you must complete the form in the registration link in the Member Portal!
Updates From the Field
Check out these messages from the Center’s incredible Field Coordinators!
Center Field Coordinator (and founder of The Ferguson School) Tiffany Blassingame not only presented representing the National Microschooling Center at the National Hybrid Schools Conference this past weekend, she also held two wonderful meetups! One was an NMC Meet and Greet and the other was cohosted with the National Association of Black Microschool Leaders!
Center Field Coordinator (and founder of Kipe Academy) Tonya Kipe was also representing the Center at the National Hybrid Schools Conference and said, “It is definitely fun to hang out with your friends while also learning ways to better support your program.” We love this community!
The Can't Miss of the Season!
Take a look for virtual trainings, conferences, local meetups and more!
Hot Topic Webinar: Supporting Students with Dyslexia: Wednesday, May 6th at 4pmPT/7pmET
See above for description and registration links
Yass Prize Webinar: Thursday, May 7th at 4pmPT/7pmET
See above for description and registration links
Center Virtual Meetings & Office Hours
Virtual: Measuring Impact Design Lab Information Session, Tuesday, May 5th | 1pm PT/4pm ET
Join the National Microschooling Center to learn more about the Measuring Impact Design Lab and how you can submit a project for the upcoming school year!
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