National Microschooling Center's Thursday Bulletin
Hello microschooling friends!
“What a week!” If that observation is on your mind, you’re in good company. Like most of the people reading this right now, here at the Center, we’ve been that busy too!
Hopefully you were one of the over 100 founders and leaders who joined us throughout this week for programs including webinars on insurance options for microschools that serve homeschoolers, navigating Florida’s complex maze of government requirements, or our first interest meeting in the new Measuring Impact Design Lab. And the upcoming calendar is packed with more useful and essential opportunities, as you can read about below.
“That is one key reason the National Microschooling Center exists—to support, connect, and strengthen… microschools across the country that are entering the educational landscape alongside traditional models and not replacing them—they are adding to the ecosystem, filling gaps, and creating new pathways for students who need and/or want something different,” writes Center Field Coordinator Dr. Jill Brown in her latest essay published this week.
In this week’s edition: the latest legislative updates, new article from Dr. Jill Brown, new cohorts, a Yass briefing, Supporting students with dyslexia, a meet up in Atlanta and so much more!
Legislative Updates
Tennessee’s legislature last week expanded the Education Freedom Scholarship Program by an estimated 15,000 seats. Governor Bill Lee is expected to sign the measure soon. Last year, 20,000 scholarships were awarded, about half the number applying.
Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation expanding Alabama’s Choose Act funding by more than 25,000 additional seats. The law also makes it easier for students using the CHOOSE Act to still participate in athletics. Enrollment in the microschool-friendly choice program has grown substantially, with approximately one-third more students electing to use the program for the 2026-27 school year.
Also last week, a Missouri Circuit Court judge ruled upholding the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program as consistent with the state’s constitution. Microschools are permitted uses for program funds, including those which have not received accreditation in certain instances.
New Microschool Article
“What We Mean When We Say ‘We Serve Students’” is the focus of this new article by Dr. Jill Brown, founder of Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment in Missouri. “Microschools offer environments that adapt to students, not the other way around,” she writes. “They create space for individualized pacing, flexible grouping, hands‑on learning, and deep relationships. They allow educators to say: Let’s try that.”
New Member-Only Cohort Starting Monday!
Interested in Instructional Leadership? If so, this cohort (free for Center members) facilitated by the ever-insightful Tiffany Blassingame is for you!
What you’ll do during this 6-week cohort:
- Align components of instructional leadership to mission, vision and core beliefs.
- Develop innovative strategies to design and implement curriculum
- Design processes for constructive feedback and coaching for teachers
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 in the past few years?Join members of the Center team and the Yass Prize team on 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.
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.
You’ll explore what dyslexia actually is and isn’t, uncover practical instructional strategies rooted in the science of reading, and walk away with tools and techniques you can use right away to make learning more accessible and effective for all students.
Whether you’re looking to boost confidence, improve reading outcomes, or build more inclusive learning environments, this session will give you clear insights and actionable guidance to transform challenges into opportunity.
*We do not record our webinars. We highly encourage you to attend to access the content and get your questions answered.
Members: RSVP here in the member portalto gain panelist access to get question priority and interact with our guest speakers!
Nonmembers: Register here to attend this upcoming webinar!
Learning Tools Interest Form Closing Tomorrow!
Attention Center Members! The Learning Tool Interest form for the 26-27 school year is closing tomorrow!
All of the learning tools we add to our catalog are based on interest, so if there is enough interest to renew a learning tool, then we will be able to move forward. If there is not, then we are always open to revisiting it for the next school year. This form is what tells us which tools have enough interest for us to sign a contract with! If you do not complete it, then there is a chance the tools you want may not be available.
Are you in the Member Portal yet? If you have an active Center membership and have not yet made your way into the Member Portal, you are missing out on some serious benefits! The portal houses benefits like:
Cohorts
Events
State groups and Policy Updates
Sample Library
A closed community (this means it’s only microschools and is a safe place to ask questions you don’t want made public)
If you need help accessing your benefits, please contact Sarah, our incredible Membership Coordinator, at sarah@microschoolingcenter.org
Updates From the Field
Check out these messages from the Center’s incredible Field Coordinators!
From Texas Field Coordinator, Dr Erin Flynn: Texas continues to navigate the brand new TEFA waters. As decisions on accreditation and state testing are causing additional headaches for microschool founders, the Center wants you to know that we are here to help steer. Just email erin@microschoolingcenter.org for any updates or concerns.
From Florida Field Coordinator, Tonya Kipe: While I was at the Kennedy Space Center Field trip on Friday, I saw two other microschool leaders! It was such a surprise to see familiar faces so far from home (it was about a 2 hour travel time for everyone)! Florida teachers get a free educator pass at KSC. Email tonya@microschoolingcenter.org for more information and other Florida resources!
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 In Person Meetups
Atlanta | Hybrid Schools Conference | Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25
Are you headed to Atlanta? Reach out to Center Field Coordinator, Tiffany Blassingame, to get info to connect with the Center while you're there! tiffany@microschoolingcenter.org (and you won't want to miss the panel Tiffany is on!)
Center Virtual Meetings & Office Hours
Virtual: Prelaunch Office Hours: Hiring Focus, Thursday, April 23rd | 3pm PT/6pm ET
This is a focused 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!
Virtual: Currently Operating Office Hours: Parent Engagement Strategies Focus, Monday, April 27th | 3pm PT/6pm ET
This is a focused session for any currently operating microschool founders. Alex will lead conversations, answer questions, and provide help as you decide on your next steps in your process! Register here!
Virtual: Center Quarterly Meeting | Tuesday, April 28th | 4pm PT/7pm ET
We are sharing out Center updates, including the launch of 3 NEW PROGRAMS! We are also talking all things membership renewal, new learning tools and policy updates! Bring your favorite drink, your favorite snack (maybe your favorite Zoom background?) to the mix and join Don, Ashley, Katie and more of the Center team for this quarterly update! Link to join in the member portal!
Center Training Office Hours
Virtual: Training Institute Office Hours: Tuesday, April 28th | 1pm PT/4pm ET
If you completed a course through the National Microschooling Center Training Institute, you may now register for one office hour session for the course you have completed. Register here!
Center Cohort Meetings
Virtual Cohort: Instructional Leadership: Monday, April 27th | 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET
Sign up in the member portal
Virtual Cohort: Conflict & Connection: Wednesday, April 29th | 4pm PT/7pm ET
Sign up in the member portal (cohort is full)
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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