Article: So, You Want to Open a Microschool
Please Note: The article is neither owned nor written by the Virginia Microschools Network. The PDF is provided solely for ease of viewing
In this article for Education Next by Kerry McDonald she discusses that as microschools continue to grow nationwide, many aspiring founders are discovering that their greatest challenges aren’t instructional—they’re operational. From navigating regulations and zoning laws to securing funding and learning how to run a small business, these hurdles can delay or derail promising school ideas. Increasingly, founders are turning to microschool accelerators and networks for the mentorship, resources, and community needed to move from vision to launch.
One such founder is Maggie Van Camp, a former public school teacher and education professor who opened a Reggio Emilia–inspired K–5 microschool in New Hampshire. While confident in her educational philosophy, Van Camp joined a microschool accelerator to gain business guidance and operational support—an experience she credits with giving her the confidence to launch successfully.
Her story reflects a broader trend. Microschools—small, flexible, highly personalized learning environments—now serve an estimated 750,000 students across the United States. As interest has surged, particularly since 2020, a growing ecosystem of accelerators and networks has emerged to support founders with coaching, funding pathways, legal guidance, and peer connection. These organizations differ in philosophy and structure but share a commitment to helping entrepreneurial educators build sustainable, innovative schools.
For many founders, joining a network offers more than technical assistance; it provides reassurance, shared learning, and a sense of belonging in what can otherwise be a lonely entrepreneurial journey. As school choice programs expand and families seek alternatives to conventional education, these accelerators are playing a key role in widening access to microschools—helping more educators turn bold ideas into thriving learning communities.
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