The "Microschooling" Experiment in American Education: Will it Succeed?

Abstract

The United States is experiencing a boom in microschools, prompted by school closures due to COVID-19 pandemic (Zviedrite et al., 2024). These small, community-based learning environments have become increasingly popular as families sought alternatives to traditional schooling during widespread school closures. Although it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of microschools in the nation as there is no regulatory body to track them, the National Microschooling Network estimates about 95,000 microschools with median enrollment of 16 students. Some researchers drew parallel between microschool movements and the free schools and experimental learning models of the 1960s that short lived, and others were optimistic about their success. This article examines advantages, opportunities, and challenges related to the success of microschools and emphasizes that in long run their success depends on such outcome measures of students’ progression from microschools to college entrance to eventual graduation and employment with high occupational earnings.

Keywords: Microschools, COVID-19, alternative learning models, Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), school vouchers, school choice programs.