I. Parental Choice

Parents should have the freedom to choose the education experiences (public school, homeschool, private school, charter school, microschool, virtual school, etc.) that best serve their child. Policies should not allow government bureaucrats to limit this freedom. New state laws and local regulations should protect this right and eliminate existing barriers.

II. Education Entrepreneurial Freedom

Education entrepreneurs come from a wide range of backgrounds, including parents, former and current educators, professionals from various fields, athletes, and more. State laws should not restrict who can start or operate these models.

III. Protecting Uniqueness

Unconventional learning environments should remain unique and no new or existing state laws should impose traditional school mandates on these models or aim to fold them back into the “traditional mold.” These environments are designed to be different, and parents choose them for this reason.

IV. Keep Homeschooling Set Apart and Free from Regulation

Homeschool families should be free to educate their children in the time, place, and with the people of their choosing without being required to submit to new regulations or exemptions on microschools and other education innovations. If legislation requires definitions of microschooling and other education innovations, they should be narrow so that they do not inadvertently regulate homeschooling.

V. Funding and Autonomy

Emerging school choice and education funding programs should allow families to use education dollars at unconventional learning environments. In doing so, state law should protect the parents right to choose and protect the autonomy of these models.

VI. Refine and Avoid Tailored Regulations

State laws designed for traditional public school systems should not be applied to new unconventional models. Policymakers should identify and remove barriers that hinder the creation and operation of these models, recognizing their diverse settings—from homes to small learning environments to more formal school-like buildings. New laws should remove barriers and not apply existing or outdated laws or regulations on new models that will stymie access to a new model or limit the creation of new models from opening and serving families.

VII. Founder & Parent Friendly Zoning and Regulations

Policymakers should carefully consider how zoning, occupancy, land use, and other regulations might hinder microschools. For example, a microschool in a residential home could be forced to close if state laws require commercial zoning or costly upgrades. State lawmakers should review these regulations to avoid unintended consequences for microschooling.