Growth of Alternative Education Options in the U.S.
A recent report has highlighted that 17 states implemented universal school choice programs when both the governor and Congress were controlled by Republicans. Interestingly, this trend isn’t limited to those states—choices are expanding in various forms across the country.
In states where there is resistance to funding private education, three affordable K-12 options are rapidly gaining traction, offering more choices to students.
The most popular alternative currently is the “microschool,” which typically caters to fewer than 16 students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families established these small educational environments when public schools shut down. This trend has continued, providing a more personalized learning experience in both Blue and Red states. Nowadays, approximately 95,000 microschools operate in the U.S., serving over 1.5 million K-12 students, according to Dan Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center.
Another growing option is the “Church Learning Center.” As the name suggests, these schools usually function within places of worship on weekdays or whenever the facility isn’t in use for religious services. Depending on the size of the church, these centers can be as small as microschools or serve hundreds of students.
Determining how many church learning centers exist is challenging due to the lack of a national organization representing them, and there’s a certain hesitance about promoting themselves for fear of regulatory scrutiny akin to traditional private schools. However, a clear sign of their rising popularity is the increasing number of local and religious organizations focused on helping churches set up educational programs.
For instance, in Kansas, a group of six homeschool mothers, known as Heartland Educational Reform Agency, supports schools associated with 15 parishes and connects clergy with each other. Similarly, in Boston, a family research lab has successfully guided over 20 religious organizations in creating their own Christian learning centers. On the West Coast, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is encouraging the formation of several such schools.
The third major low-cost educational option is the “hybrid school,” defined by its size, location, or curriculum rather than how students split their time. Students may spend two or three days learning at home, with the rest of the week in more structured settings, which might include microschools or church learning centers, but can also involve universities or other organizations.
Some hybrid schools, notably, are traditional private schools offering part-time academy programs—as seen with Canterbury Christian School in Los Altos, California. They provide a two-day-a-week curriculum for homeschooled kids. As Rev. Steve Macias, the school principal, pointed out, “In a place like Silicon Valley, where homes cost $3 million or $4 million, it’s tough to afford full-time tuition.”
A big advantage for all three types of low-cost schools is the active involvement of families in their management. Parents often take on various roles, like classroom aides or sports coaches. Church learning centers benefit from drawing volunteers from their communities.
Another aspect that helps keep costs manageable is the status of many students as homeschoolers, allowing them to avoid significant regulatory oversight. From a governmental view, education in these settings resembles home schooling rather than typical school environments. These institutions often function more like tutoring services, with many best described as “co-homeschools.”
Lastly, many microschools, church learning centers, and hybrid schools are increasingly adopting a “classical curriculum,” which focuses on memorizing facts and developing reasoning skills through classic literature that has shaped Western civilization, including texts influential to America’s founders.
While this educational approach isn’t necessarily cheaper, more parents are convinced that the academic benefits justify their investments. As Frederick M. Hess, Director of Educational Policy Research at the American Institute of Corporate Research, notes, classically educated students often perform exceptionally well on standardized tests, leading to high university acceptance rates. They also tend to outperform on the SAT in ways that don’t require a focused teaching approach.
When it comes to the actual costs involved for microschools, church learning centers, or hybrid schools, various factors play a role—like the ratio of paid staff to volunteers, rental costs, and offered activities. One example is Cornerstone Church in Wooksbridge, Massachusetts, which has hosted parent-led schools for years. Their program Deltic, which runs on the principle of “educate together in Christ,” serves 70-90 students at a yearly cost of $15-75. This is quite a bit lower compared to traditional private or parochial schools, which may charge between $5,000 to $10,000 annually.
Despite pushback from politicians in blue and purple states against funding private education, it seems that alternative school options are emerging in various communities, albeit in distinct ways compared to more conservative regions. Change is happening, though—slowly but surely.
