Giving Compass' Take:

• Here are seven benefits of microschools for both the future of education and student achievement. 

• What are the challenges for microschools? 

• Read this comprehensive guide to microschools and the learning programs offered within them.

What if you could start a school in a six weeks instead of six years? What if you could launch a school for $50,000 rather than $50 million? What if you could test an innovation with 20 kids rather than 2,000?

Microschools are popping up around the country. It may not come as a surprise that schools of 15 to 150 students are easier, cheaper, and faster to open.

But there are seven reasons why teachers, parents, and school districts should consider microschools:

  1. Nimble. Microschools are responsive to change; there is a shorter loop from idea to feedback to iteration.
  2. Options. Microschools quickly create new community connected learning options such as themes, careers, and experiences for students.
  3. Relationships. Microschools are small and typically rely on multi-age groupings–both aspects that promote powerful sustained teacher-student relationships.
  4. Place. Microschools have the agility to connect with community and leverage the power of place.
  5. Flexible formats. As illustrated by CottageClass in Brooklyn, New York City, microschools may be full- or part-time learning experiences for PreK-12 students.
  6. Distributed leadership. Microschools can be used to leverage teacher leadership. In Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin, microschools were a key part of district transformation.
  7. New proposition. Microschools like NOLA Micro Schools can bundle new goals, strategies, and community connections.

Read the full article about microschools by Tom Vander Ark at Getting Smart.