The Center’s Stance on Microschool Directories

We get asked weekly, it seems, to create a directory or to share our lists of microschools located all over the country. Our answer is an unequivocal and resounding no. Our answer, for the foreseeable future, will always be no. Here’s why.

Microschool directories can be helpful, but when not done properly, they can be more harmful than helpful, and even inadvertently put good people in harm’s way.

Let’s start with the good. We have some really great friends doing really great things with directories. For example, Microschool Florida, has an incredible directory of member microschools in the Sunshine State. They are doing this the right way, allowing microschools to opt in and working in Florida where they know the rules and regulations relating to microschools. Local and responsible directories can be a great resource for parents to connect with microschools in the area.

Lately, we are seeing a significant increase in the rise of broad, multi-state or even national directories, looking to add members for a fee or for free, promising to elevate your school. Here’s a small sample of what we have seen come from this style of directory:

• A microschool listed on a national directory was sued for alleged trademark infringement on their name by a corporate interest.
  
  
• A microschool was issued an arbitrary cease and desist order after a local regulator found the microschool on a directory.
  
  
• An increase in child care agencies checking these directories for potential targets for regulation.

This is an unfortunate, and unintended, side effect of these directories. Unfortunately, when we hear of these microschools getting pushback and/or sued, the directory is not there to help. 

We will always help our members when possible, including providing help to recover from the unintended consequences of being in a too-broad directory, and our Senior Fellow for Legal Affairs is at the ready, but unfortunately, sometimes these cases fall outside of the scope of work we can do.

We strongly caution you to be mindful of your state’s regulations and rules, not only education but child care licensing, food handlers, health, fire and more, as well as your current standing on your intellectual property before creating a listing in one of these directories.

At the National Microschooling Center, we personally email every parent that reaches out to find a microschool to ask about their needs and children before we share any information with the parent.

If you have questions about your state’s policies, rules, and regulations, reach out to ashley@microschoolingcenter.org to schedule a time to talk.