During COVID, there was a major uptick in families sending their kids to microschools, homeschool co-ops, and learning pods. Why did families pick these options…and why are they continuing post-pandemic?

Well, recently, we interviewed families across the country and found three Jobs to Be Done spurring their decisions. Contrary to what you might think, identity politics wasn’t really the thing driving this trend. In fact, one of the three Jobs centered on the simple reality that many kids were struggling in their conventional schools. 

What I found interesting was that the struggles we heard are actually pretty common for lots of families. But most families don’t make the leap.

Pulling your child out of school and finding another option is challenging and often requires sacrifices. 

But in the future, if the hurdles involved in switching to a microschool decrease, I think we might actually see many more families choosing these options.

If you like insights on the future of education, check out our report, and follow for more.

Author

  • Thomas Arnett
    Thomas Arnett

    Thomas Arnett is a senior research fellow for the Clayton Christensen Institute. His work focuses on using the Theory of Disruptive Innovation to study innovative instructional models and their potential to scale student-centered learning in K–12 education. He also studies demand for innovative resources and practices across the K–12 education system using the Jobs to Be Done Theory.