homeschooling

Despite Massachusetts families’ strong interest in alternative to traditional educational models, entrepreneurs seeking to establish innovative learning environments face significant challenges, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.

Microschools launch and close more easily than traditional schools—is that a feature or a bug? This week on Microschooling Journeys, Brian Hyosaka shares the story of Embark Micro Middle School in Denver, a tuition-free, philanthropy-backed microschool closing after six successful years. Rather than charge tuition or become a charter, they chose to "go out on top." Embark’s legacy includes inspiring hundreds of educators. Folks, this is where we leave our limited podcast series.  Microschooling Journeys has come to an end, if you listened,  thank you, please give me a shout, I’d love your feedback.  This is Curious Mike signing off!

In this week's episode of Microschooling Journeys, Curious Mike chats with Nick, a 15-year-old homeschooler dual-enrolled at VLACS and Arizona State University online, pursuing a business degree. Nick shares his unconventional education path, why he left traditional school after kindergarten, and how KaiPod Microschool fits into his journey. Will he return next year? What are his future aspirations? Tune in to find out! Plus, stay tuned for next week’s episode with KaiPod CEO Amar Kumar.

In this episode of Homeschooling Journeys with Curious Mike, Katie Switzer from West Virginia shares her compelling story as a homeschooling mom navigating the state's Hope Scholarship program. She recounts her pivotal role as a plaintiff in the legal battle that saw the scholarship declared unconstitutional by a West Virginia Circuit Court, only to be appealed to the state Supreme Court. Katie also sheds light on the frustrations and red tape surrounding the reimbursement process, a challenge many parents face when trying to access funds through the scholarship. Despite the hurdles, Katie successfully uses her Hope Scholarship for her children’s education, covering basic curriculum, speech therapy, piano lessons, and online classes with a beloved teacher, Miss Ashley. This episode provides an eye-opening look at the struggles and successes within the evolving landscape of school choice and education savings accounts.

This week on Homeschooling Journeys Curious Mike talks with Daniella Moreci-Pack, an Arizona mom utilizing her state's Education Savings Account (ESA) to homeschool her son with ADHD. Daniella shares how she spends ESA funds on special needs therapies, curriculum products, and in-person enrichment activities like karate and dance classes. She explores key themes, including the flexibility of homeschooling, the initial anxiety of leaving traditional schooling, and the common shift from structured schedules to more child-led learning. Daniella also discusses navigating ESA red tape, as new rules add bureaucratic hurdles. Tune in to hear highlights of Daniella's approach and resilience in overcoming these challenges to give her child a personalized education.

In the debut episode of Homeschooling Journeys, we meet Alicia Garcia, the founder of Project Flourish Community. Alicia offers an innovative Home Ec experience where students participate in hands-on learning, from picking ingredients in her backyard to cooking healthy meals. As both a provider and user of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), Alicia shares her unique perspective on homeschooling. The episode delves into the challenges of setting up ESA payments and the benefits of specialized learning. Alicia also touches on a heartwarming story of how she used ESA funds to help her introverted son join a local stage musical.

After steadily increasing for years, the number of parents choosing to homeschool their children skyrocketed during the pandemic, and policy makers should do more to acknowledge homeschooling as a viable option, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.

After steadily increasing for years, the number of parents choosing to homeschool their children skyrocketed during the pandemic, and policy makers should do more to acknowledge homeschooling as a viable option, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.

Looking for quality literature and books to share with your children while we’re all at home for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19? Here are some excellent options that will nurture a love for great classic literature and enduring historical figures:

Message from Jim Stergios sharing important steps and work we at Pioneer will be undertaking during the COVID-19 pandemic, to continue to provide quality programming, research, videos, podcasts, and social media content, and serve as a resource for media and the public, with a focus on issues such as telecommuting and telemedicine, online learning and homeschooling options, and innovation in the life sciences.