Microschools are a growing trend in education, offering families an alternative to traditional schools by providing a personalized, student-centered learning experience. With small class sizes, a flexible curriculum, and a focus on individual interests and needs, microschools have the potential to revolutionize education. If you're interested in starting a microschool, this blog post will provide you with a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Step 1: Determine Your Purpose and Goals

Before you start a microschool, it's important to determine your purpose and goals for the school. What do you hope to achieve with the school? What kind of education do you want to provide for your students? Are you looking to create a learning environment that is focused on individual needs and interests, or do you have a specific educational philosophy that you want to adhere to? Answering these questions will help you to establish a clear direction for your microschool, and will serve as the foundation for your planning and decision-making process.

Step 2: Develop Your Curriculum

One of the key benefits of microschools is the ability to create a curriculum that is tailored to the individual needs and interests of your students. When developing your curriculum, it's important to consider the following factors:

• Age and abilities of your students
• Individual learning styles and needs
• State and local education requirements
• Goals and objectives for your microschool

When developing your curriculum, you may also want to consider incorporating project-based learning, hands-on activities, and real-world projects, as these approaches can help to engage students and reinforce their learning.

Step 3: Secure a Space

Securing a space for your microschool is an important step in the process. When looking for a space, consider factors such as size, location, and accessibility. You may also want to consider factors such as access to outdoor spaces, technology and equipment, and storage. Depending on the size of your microschool and your budget, you may want to consider renting a space, converting a home into a school, or working with a co-working space.

Step 4: Hire and Train Your Teachers

Hiring and training your teachers is a critical step in starting a microschool. When hiring teachers, consider factors such as experience, education, and passion for teaching. You may also want to consider whether you want to hire full-time or part-time teachers and whether you want to hire teachers with a specific educational background or teaching style.

When training your teachers, it's important to provide them with the resources and support they need to be successful. This may include professional development opportunities, such as workshops, online courses, and access to teaching materials and resources.

You may also check out the video interview by our co-founder - Brett Kopf with Marrissa Hess from Urban Cottage where she extensively shares her thoughts on hiring and training teachers for microschools.

Step 5: Enroll Students

Enrolling students is the final step in starting a microschool. When enrolling students, consider factors such as age, abilities, and learning styles. You may also want to consider how many students you want to enroll in your microschool, as this will help to determine the size of your space and the number of teachers you will need to hire.

In conclusion, starting a microschool can be a rewarding and challenging experience. By following these steps, you can create a personalized and student-centered learning environment that will provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century. If you're interested in starting a microschool, take the time to research and plan carefully, and consider seeking the help and advice of experienced educators and experts in the field.

About Omella

Omella is a powerful online platform that can help microschools efficiently manage their tuition, forms, and waivers. With Omella, microschools can easily create and customize payment plans, collect tuition fees securely, and keep track of student balances. Additionally, Omella allows microschools to create and share digital forms and waivers with parents, making it easier to collect and manage important information. Omella's user-friendly interface and intuitive features help streamline administrative tasks, allowing microschools to focus on providing high-quality education to their students.