Last week, educational entrepreneurs from around the country attended the 4th Annual National Hybrid Schools Conference hosted by Kennesaw State. Featured topics included everything from different learning models to financial considerations to media and messaging. And this week, we celebrated Microschool Week here in Georgia, and nationwide.
So what is the fuss all about?
Microschools and hybrid homeschools are similar, but not quite the same thing. Often described as “the modern one-room schoolhouse,” microschools are small, community-centered learning environments that typically serve fewer than 15 students. They offer flexible, personalized education tailored to the needs, pace and passions of each child. They generally are set up to function like a school, but on a smaller scale.
Hybrid homeschools may appear to be the same, but they serve students who are homeschooling. The “hybrid” factor is that they allow homeschoolers from different families to come together for part of their education, but do the rest of it separately. The proportion of together vs. separate may vary from group to group, or even among members of a hybrid school. In many ways, they are similar to the learning pods that became popular during the pandemic, as even students in public and private schools sought out ways to spend time together, or share adult supervision, when forced to learn remotely.
How many children are homeschooling in Georgia?
This question is a little difficult to answer. According to recent U.S. Census data, approximately 6.27% of K–12 students in Georgia were homeschooled during the 2023–2024 academic year. These numbers are among the highest in the nation, but also are in line with the national trends that show a steady growth in homeschooling post-pandemic.
Why are microschools gaining momentum, especially here in Georgia?
1. Personalized Learning
One of the most powerful benefits of microschools is their ability to personalize education. In a traditional classroom with 25 or 30 students, it’s difficult for teachers to tailor instruction to each child’s needs. For better or worse, traditional schools, whether public or private, are designed to “train the masses.” Microschools, by contrast, are built around small group learning, allowing educators to adapt lessons to fit different learning styles, paces and interests. Students who need more time to master a concept can get it, and those ready to move ahead can do so.
2. Stronger Relationships
In microschools, students aren’t just a number. With small class sizes, teachers get to know each child deeply — their strengths, struggles and passions. These strong relationships often lead to better academic outcomes and more confident learners. Students feel seen and valued, which can make all the difference in how they view themselves and their potential.
3. A Safe, Supportive Environment
Safety — both physical and emotional — is a top priority for families today. Microschools often offer a tight-knit, supportive community where outside distractions are less common. Parents and educators can collaborate closely, creating an environment where students feel secure and supported as they grow academically and personally.
4. Innovation and Flexibility
Microschools are free from many of the bureaucratic constraints that burden larger institutions. That flexibility allows them to innovate — whether it’s project-based learning, outdoor education, apprenticeships or customized curriculums. If a student excels in a particular subject or shows interest in a new field, microschools can adapt quickly to nurture that passion.
5. Parent Empowerment
In an era marked by escalating tensions at school board meetings — and even a Supreme Court case over what schools are choosing to teach — microschools give families more control over how and what their children learn, reinforcing parental choice in education.
What has Georgia done to protect homeschoolers and help the movement grow?
In 2021, Georgia became the first state in the nation to protect hybrid homeschoolers from government oversight with the passage of the The Learning Pod Protection Act. This legislation ensures that parents who voluntarily group their children for educational purposes are not subjected to additional state or local regulations. The Act clarifies that learning pods are not considered schools or childcare centers and thus should not be regulated as such. They are exempt from, among other things, staffing ratios and certification requirements.
It prohibits state and local governments, including school districts, from imposing additional restrictions or regulations on learning pods. And it prevents these entities from requiring learning pods to register or report their existence.
That law helped protect homeschoolers today, but the Georgia Promise Scholarship program will benefit future homeschoolers. The Promise Scholarship, Georgia’s first educational savings account program, allows eligible families to receive up to $6,500 for a variety of educational expenses, including homeschool curriculum, tutoring and support for specialized needs.
The law, however, requires families to have been enrolled in a public school when applying, or to be entering kindergarten, meaning current homeschool students are not eligible.
Many wondered if the surge in homeschooling during the pandemic would be just a passing trend. While the explosive year-over-year growth we saw in the early 2020s has slowed, homeschooling has firmly established itself as a mainstream education option. More families are choosing homeschooling not just out of necessity, but because they see the benefits for their family. Microschools are simply an offshoot of that desire.
