Indiana Governor Backs Microschools

Microschooling is on the rise in Indiana, as growing dissatisfaction with public education options continues to push parents toward alternative models. Governor Mike Braun, speaking to Fox News Digital, cited parental frustration as a major driver behind the expansion of these small, hybrid learning environments.

“While I’m here, we’re going to make sure parents are in the driver’s seat of their own kids’ education,” Braun said during a signing ceremony for education-related legislation. The newly signed bills increase teacher pay and expand universal school choice, continuing Indiana’s shift toward a more parent-driven educational framework.

Currently, there are an estimated 140 microschools operating in the state, according to a report shared by an Indiana official. Microschools — typically composed of fewer than 50 students — blend elements of homeschooling with traditional classroom methods.

They can be privately operated or hosted within public institutions, and they emphasize personalized learning plans tailored to each student’s goals and interests.

One such example is Purdue Polytechnic High School Lab School in Indianapolis, which operates out of a Lutheran church and enrolls around 20 students. Another, Nature Gifts Microschool, will function as a public charter school, accepting students on a first-come, first-served basis. Though charter schools are publicly funded, they are independently operated, allowing for greater flexibility and innovation.

Braun sees the rise of microschools as part of a broader movement toward educational choice. “Microschools, to me, are just an innovation that says, ‘Hey, I’m not happy with that public school system... We’re going to put our own microschool together,’” he said.

The model is particularly appealing to rural families, who often have fewer traditional school options. It also resonates with parents who began exploring alternatives during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued to seek flexible, localized education options.

Nationally, Indiana ranks third in the number of microschools, trailing only Arizona and Florida. Education analyst Corey DeAngelis of the American Culture Project points to the pandemic as a catalyst.

“When the government schools closed their doors and left families hanging, families tried to figure out homeschooling,” he said. Microschools, he added, offered a way to share resources while maintaining control over curriculum and environment.