What is a microschool? Here’s what to know about microschooling
February 8, 2024
In 2022, the state of Arizona expanded its Empowerment Scholarship Account, or ESA. With that change, all Arizona families can access school choice and receive over $6,500 per year per child for private school, homeschooling, tutoring, microschooling – or whatever other educational service would best fit their child’s needs. Any child who wishes to opt out of the local public school is now allowed to join the ESA program.
The ESA went from serving 100 students in 2011 to 71,809 (as of December 12, 2023). The Arizona Department of Education introduces the program by stating, “Parents have the right to choose what’s best for their family and have their education tax dollars pay for the school that meets their child’s needs. Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) make that possible.” With the ESA expansion, the number of microschools in Arizona has exploded, with no signs of slowing.
Microschools thrive in Arizona due to the lack of bureaucratic hoops and governmental oversight over them: they are not regulated by the Arizona Board of Education or charter school boards. Teachers are not required to be certified in microschools, which means anyone can teach. Plus, microschools do not need to be accredited. Add in ESA program dollars to help fund microschool tuition, and that’s many of the factors making it desirable for new microschools to open throughout the state.
On the flip side, educational freedom and lack of governmental oversight allows for the potential of poor-performing and even fraudulent microschools. That’s where a microschool approach like Britestar Christian’s becomes invaluable. Parents need a program that they can trust implicitly with their children’s education. Program oversight, accountability and student safety shouldn’t have to be a concern when parents choose a microschool program. With tried and tested programs like Britestar Christan’s, parents can rest assured that their young learners are receiving a top-quality and fully comprehensive education from credentialed and Christian teachers.
As Britestar Christian expands its approach to microschooling into Arizona, the key tenets that have made Britestar successful in other states, like Wisconsin and Georgia, are replicated. Britestar Christian offers a comprehensive range of K4-12 online courses taught by credentialed educators in a virtual or blended setting. Britestar matches up fully-trained, Christian teachers who are able to virtually instruct in a classroom anywhere in Arizona. Curriculum is comprehensive and structured, yet designed with individualized instruction in mind. See an example of a “day in the life” of a Britestar Christian student here.
Learn more about Britestar Christian by visiting www.britestarchristian.com or by calling 850-824-1333. Britestar looks forward to working with Arizona families who desire the best education for their children!