Microschooling is on the rise in Indiana, with expectations that it will continue to grow as parents express dissatisfaction with local public school choices.
“We want to empower parents to take control of their children’s education,” Brown stated.
On Tuesday, Brown commemorated the passage of an education bill aimed at increasing teacher salaries and enhancing universal school choice in the state.
“These are the parents most frustrated with what’s currently offered, but they might not want to navigate this alone,” he noted.
A report shared by Indiana officials indicates that approximately 140 microschools are currently operating in the state.
Microschooling blends elements of homeschooling with a more traditional school structure, often organized by public institutions.
The Indiana Micro School Collaboration describes microschools as “small learning environments within local communities, where each student benefits from a personalized learning plan tailored to their individual needs, interests, and goals.”
For example, Purdue Polytechnic High School Lab School is a private institution in Indianapolis serving about 20 ninth and tenth graders, offering a tailored educational experience, with lab sessions held at a local church.
The lab school began operations in the fall of 2023 and is designed to integrate a consultation period throughout the school day, as reported by local sources.
Nature Gifts Microschool, another Indiana public charter school, operates on a first-come, first-served basis to enroll students.
Charter schools, while receiving taxpayer funding similar to public schools, operate independently, fostering innovation in educational approaches.
With the charter school model, taxpayer funds are directly allocated to students at microschools, a reflection of their smaller management and class sizes.
Brown emphasized Indiana’s leadership in providing a diverse range of educational choices for parents. “Microschools represent a shift where parents are saying, ‘I’m not satisfied with the public school options or even charters. Let’s create our own microschools,’” he explained.
Rural families are increasingly turning to microschools due to limited educational options.
Since the pandemic, more parents have opted for homeschooling, indicating a notable trend in moving away from public schools.
While microschooling isn’t a brand-new idea, it functions similarly to homeschooling.
This trend is not confined to Indiana; microschools are popping up across the country.
Reports show that interest in homeschooling has surged among parents since 2024.
Additionally, another Indiana report identifies the state as having the third highest number of microschools in the U.S., trailing only Arizona and Florida.
Corey Deangelis from the American Culture Project remarked that the growth of microschools reflects a broader trend where states are giving parents alternatives to their neighborhood public schools, especially for those disenfranchised by traditional educational settings.
“When public schools closed their doors abruptly, families sought homeschooling solutions, often by grouping together with other families to educate their children,” Deangelis added.
