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1/ What are microschools?
Microschools, also known as pandemic pods due to their rise in popularity as a result of COVID-19, are small groups of families or friends, usually no more than 10, who meet in person to be taught daily by a single teacher or tutor.
Microschools, also known as pandemic pods due to their rise in popularity as a result of COVID-19, are small groups of families or friends, usually no more than 10, who meet in person to be taught daily by a single teacher or tutor.
2/ Microschools are becoming more popular due to increasing concerns about public and private schools opening back in up the fall due to COVID-19. Since the pandemic began, according to one poll, parents' favorability towards homeschooling has nearly doubled.
3/ During the pandemic, many students just didn't show up for online learning; Los Angeles reported that, on average, 32% of students didn't even log into classrooms. In Chicago, 48% of students engaged in remote learning fewer than three days a week.
4/ The preliminary research shows that students will go into the next school year with only 70% of the learning gains in reading and 50% in math relative to the previous years.
About 20% of students didn't have access to the technology they needed for remote learning.
About 20% of students didn't have access to the technology they needed for remote learning.
5/ 77% of teachers are concerned about risking their own health or that of their families, and nearly 84% of teachers said that enforcing social distancing between students would be too difficult.
6/ A poll conducted in late May found that one in five teachers said they wouldn't go back to teach in the fall if schools re-opened. https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2020-05-26/1-in-5-teachers-unlikely-to-return-to-schools-if-reopened-in-the-fall-poll-finds
7/ Arguments For Microschools:
1. Kids need education and socialization, and virtual learning isn't working for them.
2. It could be a good opportunity for a young teacher – If a regular classroom job is unavailable, a teacher could get great experience in a safe environment.
1. Kids need education and socialization, and virtual learning isn't working for them.
2. It could be a good opportunity for a young teacher – If a regular classroom job is unavailable, a teacher could get great experience in a safe environment.
8/ 3. Let's say five families combine to pay a teacher $20/hr for five hours of instruction a day, five days a week. That comes out to only $20/day per family, way less than a traditional private school, and without the worry that a student is learning.
9/ 4. Microschools avoid jamming classrooms and spreading COVID-19.
10/ Arguments against microschools:
1. Only the privileged can do it.
2. It takes resources away from public schools reopening for virtual learning.
3. It still risks spreading the virus.
1. Only the privileged can do it.
2. It takes resources away from public schools reopening for virtual learning.
3. It still risks spreading the virus.
11/ To address affordability, Sen. @RandPaul (R-KY) has introduced a bill to allow federal education funding to "follow" students so that parents can choose where to allocate money earmarked for their child.
12/ Author and Cato Institute scholar @DeAngelisCorey says that, since the U.S. spends $15,424 per child per year in public schools, a ten-child microschool would have $154,240 to use in paying a teacher and providing materials and technology
13/ The only decacorn (startup with a valuation of $10b or more) in edtech is Byju’s, which is based in India and provides a learning app starting from first grade to competitive exams. Last year, Byju’s formed a partnership with Disney to feature Disney cartoon characters.
14/ Startups and resources related to Microschooling: Zutor, CareVillage, @Winnie, Weekdays, @prendalearn, @getschoolhouse, Dexter, @wonderschools, @4pt0schools, and @Vela_Foundation.
Let us know the startups and resources we need to add to the list.
Let us know the startups and resources we need to add to the list.
15/ Do you think microschools are a good option for parents seeking educational alternatives?
