What Does School Choice Mean to a Microschool Founder?

As we celebrate National School Choice Week (the 15th anniversary!), we often think about the significant impact school choice has on the life of a student and their family. What we sometimes neglect to mention is the impact school choice has on the life of an educator. And in microschooling, it’s all about thriving, for the students, the families, and of course, the educators.

Over 70% of microschool founders are either current or formerly licensed educators (National Microschooling Center, Sector Analysis 2024). Educators are leaving the classroom to start microschools in every state across the country, some are able to access school choice programs and some are creating these options in states where there are hostile environments to school choice. 

It’s important to note that not all school choice programs, like Educational Savings Accounts and voucher programs, are microschooling friendly. If states want to keep these once-in-a-lifetime, brilliant educators in the education field in their state, allowing them to leave the classroom but stay in the profession, it is crucial to modernize existing frameworks to remove barriers, and allow families in their state the opportunity to use their program dollars for  microschools, the most exciting education movement in a generation that educators and  families have come to love so much.

For these educators, making the decision to leave a traditional setting and start their own microschool has been life changing.

“As a microschool founder, I walk lighter and more joyfully,” Justine Wilson, founder of Curious and Kind Education - a microschool in Florida, remarked. “This comes from knowing that children are being seen for who they are in a small educational environment…We get to reimagine education, design and create places for children to beg to attend and not want school vacations! Also, the family connections and involvement is greater in my experience. The school becomes a community where all are supported in learning and growing.”

Designing and creating places where children thrive is the driving force behind many microschools across the country. This new-found flexibility allows educators to create the kind of teaching and learning environment they have previously only dreamt of.

“We’ve had the unique opportunity to take everything we love about education and build upon it, while leaving behind the practices that didn’t resonate with us,” Jill Brown, co-founder of Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment (CALE), a microschool in Missouri, explained. “We’ve been able to design a learning environment that reflects what we truly want students to experience every day. Student voice is at the heart of our approach, driving the work we do, rather than just passively hearing their thoughts and desires. It has been incredibly rewarding to not only think outside the box about what education can look like, but to actually implement those innovative ideas and see them come to life.”

While running a small business definitely comes with its own challenges and unique circumstances, Jessica Benjamin, founder of Arrows Learning Academy a microschool located in Indiana, says those challenges are worth it, “Operating a microschool has been incredibly fulfilling! I find so much more joy and purpose in my work now. While running a school certainly comes with its own set of challenges, it's a profound difference from the stressors I experienced in traditional teaching roles.”

The freedom that comes with microschooling truly opens up the potential of the educator. The ability to make quick, responsive changes benefits the students, families, staff and founder. “The biggest difference between being a teacher in a traditional setting vs. being a founder/teacher is the freedom.  I am able to run my school in a manner that suits my learners, teachers and families.  I am able to make quick decisions and changes based on data or feedback at any given time without needing permission from anyone,” Rachel Frevert, founder of Integrative Learning Academy in Arizona, commented.

No longer are these educators tied to bureaucratic systems with rigid ways of making decisions, rather these talented educators can adapt and make decisions in real-time, providing the most valuable learning experiences for the children they serve.

Benjamin explains, “For example, I can tailor my instruction to each student's individual needs, using the most effective tools and resources. I'm no longer bound by rigid curriculums or standardized procedures. This flexibility allows me to offer diverse learning experiences, which might not be feasible in a traditional school, such as entrepreneurship and gardening. Furthermore, school choice enables me to optimize our time. We can delve deeper into fascinating subjects, connecting in more meaningful and engaging ways to our learning experiences. Conversely, we can also slow down and provide extra support for concepts that require more attention.”

We’ve seen the positive impact that school choice has had on the lives of students who are able to access alternative schooling options in their state; it’s equally as exciting to see the impact school choice is having on the lives of educators who are creating the environments they want to teach in.

"What we’ve created has far surpassed our expectations. We’ve built a space where all children are appreciated, celebrated, and loved, and the impact it’s had on us has been beyond words. Taking that leap of faith reignited our passion as educators and gave us the connection to goals and outcomes we had been missing in the traditional system. It has been incredibly fulfilling,” described Brown. “Perhaps most fulfilling of all, we get to experience this setting as parents. We witness our children’s love, passion, and drive for learning and friendships. They embrace school as a safe place where they can make mistakes, fall down, get back up, and continue to grow—both as students and as individuals.”

That sentiment is echoed by many microschool founders across the country, 1 in 4 microschool founders are parents creating a solution for their own children.

Frevert also created her Arizona microschool with her children in mind. “Running this microschool has changed my life and my family as well.  Because 3 of my 4 kids attend my school I'm able to experience the changes that I have been making in education.  It's provided me with passion and renewed vision for the field of education that seemed so bleak when I was in the public school system…I am so proud of the personal and professional growth I have experienced in the short 5 years since starting my school.” 

For many microschool founders, this becomes a chance to rekindle their passion for teaching and learning, embracing a return to their genuine reason for becoming an educator in the first place. And they’re finding a community of fellow microschooling founders eager to connect with each other.

“School choice allowed me to create my dream job and as it resonates with others, we find each other!” Wilson exclaimed. “As an educator, I have taken the aspects of education that resonate with me the most and I can show up as my most authentic self.  This has released the burden of following state mandates that weighs so heavy on many of us.  I have worked to deschool myself in order to reimagine education. This is a very liberating process!”

Founding a microschool is a transformative journey for educators who make the choice to walk away from a traditional system and build something new. It allows for redefining their approach to education and deepening their connection to their work and their community.

“Ultimately, founding a microschool has allowed me to truly embrace my calling as an educator, explains Benjamin. “I'm not just teaching; I'm creating a unique learning environment that aligns with who I am and the community I serve. There is nothing like getting to be truly who you are and watching others flourish along with you as you bloom and grow yourself.”