Incubating Innovation

Microschools, a collection of small numbers of young learners, are growing across America. What some parents learned about their public school during the pandemic (that some of those schools weren’t good places for their kids) launched a learning pod (even smaller versions of microschools) and microschool explosion that hasn’t slowed since 2020. Traditional public schools continue to lose enrollment because parents are looking for additional options for their child’s education beyond charter schools. There is no sign learning pod and microschool growth will slow down anytime soon.

In order for learning pods and microschools to grow, founders need support. That support can be found through the creation of incubators, or places learning pod and microschool founders can access to receive guidance about startups, growth, maintenance, and improvement when it comes to this type of public school alternative.

Last week, the Getting Smart (a learner-centered think tank founded by Tom Vander Ark) staff published an article titled “The Role of Microschool Incubators: Nurturing the Future of Education.” The staff writes,

“Across the country, we’re seeing an emergence of new learning models that have been accelerated by rapid responses to the pandemic as well as shifting local and national policy. Our microschools campaign reflects our commitment to unpacking and highlighting this emerging landscape and amplifying the important work of the numerous education leaders working on this innovative edge. In our early research, we identified four unique categories in the microschooling landscape:

Operators – Organizations that establish and oversee charter microschools, which may or may not have distinct school codes [the institutional number that separates one school from another,] and manage their day-to-day operations.

Intermediaries – Often referred to as model providers, these are entities that build networks of affiliates, facilitating the establishment and support of various microschool models. These affiliates can include public school districts, nonprofit private schools (both new and converting), and homeschool parents.

School Within a School/Part-time Programs – This group represents schools that are located within an existing school and often utilize the co-located school code. They often represent both full and part-time options and are sometimes referred to as programs. This group also represents part-time programs and pathways that operate across schools, districts, and even networks.

Incubators – Incubators, in the context of microschools, are mentor organizations or schools that offer established, comprehensive frameworks, and resources to support individuals or groups looking to establish and operate their own microschools.

…

“Incubators are specialized institutions or organizations that facilitate the creation, design, and development of microschools. These are small, community-focused educational settings that offer a personalized learning environment. Small, easy-to-pivot, responsive, and relational, microschools meet the need for learning environments to be ever-evolving to better empower the learners and families they serve.”

“Many incubators are birthed out of successful microschools or microschool networks. They model organic growth from within. Incubators are a backbone of support for many microschools, offering a range of services from sharing best practices to providing hands-on assistance in setting up new schools. Microschool incubators, however, are more than just support systems; they catalyze change in the educational sector. By prioritizing learner-centered approaches and embracing innovation, incubators are paving the way for a future where education is more adaptive, personalized, and relevant to the needs of modern learners.”

“[Getting Smart has] identified the following areas as the core functions for incubators in the small school space:

Resource and Best Practice Sharing – Incubators are repositories of knowledge and experience in the microschool arena. They guide curriculum design, teaching methodologies, and school management, ensuring that emerging microschools have access to tried and tested strategies.

Flexibility in Approach – While the methods and strategies may vary, the core objective remains constant: to provide learner-centered education that aligns with successful graduate profiles. Incubators are flexible in their approach, their leaders reminding us that it is very important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in education.

Human-Centered Design and Interation – The concept of human-centered design is central to the philosophy of Incubators. This approach prioritizes the needs and experiences of learners, ensuring that educational models are constantly iterated upon to meet these needs better.

Fostering Real-World Learning – Incubators emphasize learning that is grounded in real-world experiences and meaningful engagements. This approach ensures that education is not just about content delivery but about preparing learners for the challenges of the real world.

Personalization and Learner Agency – Recognizing that each learner is unique, incubators advocate for personalized learning paths. They encourage microschools to provide learners with agency, allowing them to have a say in their learning process and to engage with content that resonates with their individual needs and interests.

Responsiveness and Support – Incubators are known for their agility and responsiveness. Focused on the goal of helping microschools provide learners with agency, they quickly adapt to the needs of their clients and microschool families, students, and educators. Incubators do this by providing timely support and interventions to ensure the smooth functioning of these educational entities.

Embracing Failure as a Learning Tool – A distinctive aspect of Incubators is their willingness to embrace failure as part of the learning and development process. By constantly evolving and being open to experimentation, they embody a mindset of growth and continuous improvement.

Nurturing Innovation and Agility – Incubators are adept at nurturing innovative ideas and are equipped to pivot when necessary. This agility allows them to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of education.

Belonging and Inclusion – At their very core, incubators are committed to fostering learning environments that thrive on the sociocultural, socioeconomic, and learning diversity of their respective communities. As such, a sense of belonging and commitment to inclusion are shared values for incubators.”

Incubator presence will help learning pods and microschools grow across America. But there are two other important cogs necessary to make this learner-centered machine go – financial support for low-income families to access these learning pods and microschools, and family education to ensure parents and other caregivers are aware of the educational options and financial supports available if they decide a learning pod or a microschool is the best option for their children.

Til tomorrow. SVB