The Backgrounds of New Microschool Founders

Half of current microschool founders bring experience as licensed public school educators, and many currently licensed educators are preparing to open new microschools. So as traditional school districts around the country grapple with teacher shortages, many accomplished educators may have left their job, but remain in the profession meeting community demand for microschooling options.

A new analysis of the backgrounds of prelaunch microschool founders found two in five (39 percent) are currently licensed professional educators, while 36 percent were currently working as a classroom teacher or administrator.

Professionals in non-education fields represent 37 percent of prelaunch founders preparing to launch their microschools, while one-third (33 percent) are professional educators who do not hold government-recognized licenses – these include early childhood or Montessori educators. More than one-fourth (29 percent) surveyed indicated that they are parents of a child they hope to serve in the microschool they are working to launch.