Opinion: Microschools would have helped me as a kid in Peru. Now they can help Utahns.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, microschools have been gaining popularity. Following this new trend, some parents have decided that the traditional model might not be the best option for their kids and have thus transitioned to microschools. During this period, over 1.2 million students left traditional district schools. Many of them opted instead for microschools or private education.

What is a microschool?

Microschools have been described as minischools, pandemic pods, one-room schoolhouses and learning centers. Some of these schools can accommodate as many as 150 students.

Microschools provide more diverse learning options and as such can better cater to the specific and individual needs of their students. Thus, it is unsurprising that microschools have so significantly grown in popularity over the last few years considering the plethora of options that they provide for every parent and child.

As an immigrant from Peru, I appreciate what microschools can bring to the table. It is common in the most rural areas of my country for children to have to walk for hours to attend public schools. The worst part is that most of these schools are in bad condition (i.e. no water, no infrastructure, and no seats). I imagine the possibility of implementing microschools back home and seeing how they can improve the lives of thousands of Peruvian kids.

Microschools offer a wide array of opportunities for students and their families. Some offer advanced courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) disciplines, while others provide a safe and nurturing environment for students with special needs. These programs all are characterized by their commitment to meeting the particular needs and interests of their students.

One of the primary goals of microschools is to individualize education by shrinking class sizes. Instead of forcing teachers to juggle 20-30 students per class, the average student-to-teacher ratio in microschools is 5:1. This better positions educators to focus on individualized learning which students benefit from tremendously.

It is estimated that there are over 120,000 microschools in the United States, which are responsible for educating around 2 million students.

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Opinion: Microschools would have helped me as a kid in Peru. Now they can help Utahns.

Opinion: Microschools would have helped me as a kid in Peru. Now they can help Utahns.

Opinion: Microschools would have helped me as a kid in Peru. Now they can help Utahns.

Opinion: Microschools would have helped me as a kid in Peru. Now they can help Utahns.

Opinion: Microschools would have helped me as a kid in Peru. Now they can help Utahns.