There’s a surge in apps that connect parents to vocational schools, as many are moving away from public education. One such app, edefy, was launched in 2021 by a family with a background in investing in overseas private schools. The app claims to be “inspired by the rapid rise and noticeable results generated by POD/Micro-Schooling.”
The app’s creator shared that the app was completed this month after a pilot phase. “We have been funding the development of the Edefy App for two and a half years. We started using a basic version for a few pilot pods last year, but the first fully functional version was just released,” they stated.
Expressing frustration with the public education system, the creator noted, “I wanted to break that infrastructure and logistics monopoly. Our experience shows that POD schools provide a better system for kids and teachers.”
The concept rests on creating a “three-sided market” for in-person education, akin to a combination of Airbnb and Uber, to connect families with teachers directly. This technical challenge took some time to work through, but they find the outcome exciting.
What are pod schools and micro schools?
According to Corey Deangelis, a school choice advocate for the American Culture Project, “Uber transformed transportation by linking drivers and riders.” He suggests that Edefy aims to apply this model to education. The app’s creators have been fine-tuning meeting places for families and teachers to establish “pod schools.” They define pod schools as a space where families directly hire teachers, contributing to a model that is still evolving.
Pod schools function similarly to microschools, blending elements of homeschooling with traditional schooling. These educational models can be operated within public institutions or privately.
The Microschool Collaboration describes a microschool as “a small learning environment in a local community where each student has a personalized learning plan based on their needs, interests, and goals.”
Parents fleeing from failed public schools
With the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of parents have opted to homeschool their children, highlighting a trend away from public schools. Although microschooling isn’t a brand new idea, it carries the same structure as homeschooling.
After Arizona rolled out an $800 million Universal School Choice Program, allowing parents $7,000 for their children’s education, the Tucson Unified School District has grappled with financial issues, reporting a $20 million loss as families seek alternatives to the district.
Several states are now following Arizona’s lead in implementing similar school choice initiatives, responding to this growing desire among parents for alternative education options.
Deangelis emphasized that Edefy “pairs teachers with students while placing parents in control, potentially transforming education.” He noted that public schools spending around $20,000 per student could fund students’ choices, allowing a teacher to establish a microschool with 12 students, generating $240,000 annually—much more lucrative than operating in a public system without the bureaucratic constraints.
He concluded, “This reshapes the current model of schooling… Parents are looking for alternatives to government education, and even the most qualified teachers are eager to explore new paths.”
