California Kids Embrace Homeschooling Trend
For some children in California, the school experience might be over for good.
This trend sees tech-savvy families in the San Francisco Bay Area, part of a larger national movement, turning away from traditional schooling styles. They’re leveraging AI to provide educational experiences at home, which is a departure from the common stereotypes of homeschooling—think rural families or countercultural types.
Mrugesha Sathappan, a 32-year-old mother residing in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood, is leading a small but expanding group of parents who are opting for tech-enhanced homeschooling for their preschoolers and elementary-aged children. She believes that such an approach will empower her kids to navigate the complexities of a changing society. “I really want to focus on what my kids are learning, and the values being instilled—things like adaptability, kindness, and usefulness,” she mentioned.
Her daily routine with her young son typically includes around 20 minutes devoted to phonics or math, supplemented by engaging projects and outings to local museums or parks—sometimes joined by other homeschooling families. Mrugesha and her husband, Kartik Sathappan, who is an investor, have also started a meetup group for families who are skipping conventional school.
They utilize AI to design personalized games that teach phonics and STEM subjects alongside what they describe as “child-led” activities. Their son, they noted, often reads between 15 to 20 books in one sitting.
“The other day, he got really interested in rockets. So, we bought him a rocket kit. We’re planning to build a rocket that can soar 500 feet in the air,” Kartik added. “You don’t get that opportunity in traditional schooling.”
The couple believes that conventional schools often inhibit creative thinking by emphasizing repetitive tasks and encouraging children to remain seated, rather than engaging in hands-on problem-solving that grants them the “agency” to determine their own futures.
“Often, schools can disrespect kids’ time, and parents want to ensure that time is utilized meaningfully,” said Brady Neal, another dad from San Francisco who is involved in homeschooling.
Kartik, 34, is actively investing in alternative educational ventures through his fund, Families Fund. He has noticed an increasing number of “ordinary” parents who, after witnessing their children’s educational journeys during the pandemic, decided to take matters into their own hands.
The rate of homeschooling has surged from around 3% of American children in 2019 to over 6% now, making it the quickest-growing form of alternative education, as reported by EdChoice, a nonprofit focused on educational reform.
Enrollment in California’s public schools decreased by 612,000 from 2015 to 2025, as options like charter schools and microschools gained traction, according to the California Policy Center.
Even affluent parents who can pay for private schooling are choosing to homeschool—examples include Mark Zuckerberg, who set up a small school pod at his Palo Alto home during the pandemic, and tech entrepreneur Jesse Ganet, who homeschools his four children with the aid of AI.
Jamie Heston, a homeschooling consultant in the Bay Area, reports an uptick in interest from affluent families dissatisfied with what high-end private schools offer, which can exceed $30,000 a year.
California, unlike some states, does not provide financial stipends or vouchers for homeschooling families. While states like Arizona and Florida offer cash reimbursements for educational materials, a proposal for $8,000 vouchers in California stalled this year.
Families that homeschool through established charter schools may qualify for $2,200-$3,800 annually but have to adhere to strict tracking and testing standards.
Heston believes that, while homeschooling isn’t suitable for everyone, it can foster creativity, critical thinking, and essential organizational skills in students who typically struggle in traditional settings. “This isn’t some frightening movement,” she explained.
“It’s not just about providing personalized education. You can also sidestep issues like bullying and drugs. Plus, adapting the education to individual needs can happen almost overnight,” she added.
The Sathappans emphasize they aren’t entirely against schools. They might explore options like Alpha School, a network of private and charter facilities that incorporate AI with practical workshops on skills such as assembling furniture or solving puzzles.
Yet, they are committed to providing a richer educational experience than the ones they had—Kartik in a traditional setting that left him uninspired and over-medicated, and Mrugesha in an overcrowded school in India that lacked personal attention. “If he ever expresses a desire to attend traditional school for specific reasons, that would mean we’ve succeeded in giving him the ability to make choices for himself,” Mrugesha remarked.
