And How Does It Work in PA?
If you’ve been researching education options for your child, you’ve probably come across the term microschool. You might be wondering what that actually means and how it works, especially here in Pennsylvania.
I get these questions all the time:
Is Fáilte Microschool a private school?
Is it public?
Can I get tuition covered by the public school system?
Will my school district bus my child here?
Is this a “real” school?
I get it — it’s confusing! So, let’s break this down.
The Quick Answer:
In Pennsylvania, microschool students are students are legally considered homeschoolers. That means:
No state funding.
No district-provided transportation.
And parents are the legal supervisors of their child’s education.
It sounds a little daunting, but it’s actually quite simple and comes with some incredible benefits.
The Longer Answer:
Let’s start with how schools generally work.
Public schools are fully funded and regulated by state and federal laws. They have to follow strict guidelines on everything from what they teach to how long the school day is. While public schools aim to serve the majority, they often can’t cater to the unique needs of every student — which is where smaller, more personalized options like microschools come in.
Private schools have more flexibility when it comes to areas like curriculum and structure. But they too still have limitations and regulation. For those that choose to be accredited, the accreditation process is expensive. Private schools do receive some federal funding, but they rely heavily on tuition. Often times the regulations on private schools lead to many of them resembling public schools in many ways.
Now, homeschooling in Pennsylvania? It’s actually pretty straightforward! Anyone can homeschool here. The parent just needs to send a form (called an affidavit) to their district superintendent. They are responsible for 180 days of learning, but trust me, with curious kids, it’s not as hard as it sounds. Parents keep a portfolio of their child’s work throughout the year and meet with an evaluator at the end to confirm progress.
For parents of children with an IEP, there’s an extra step: When submitting the affidavit, they include a document explaining how the child's special needs will be addressed in the homeschool plan.
So Why Are Microschool Students Considered Homeschoolers?
You might be asking, why not just make microschools like Fáilte into private schools?
The answer is simple: freedom.
For now, we’re staying out of the traditional system because that’s where the real freedom is. By not being tied to the rules and regulations of public or private schools, we can focus entirely on what each child needs — no pressure from investors, boards of directors, or accreditation bodies, no oversight from the state, district, or school board.
That freedom means:
We can be flexible with our schedule, curriculum, and calendar, adapting to each child’s unique rhythm.
We can meet kids where they are, without forcing them to keep up with arbitrary timelines.
We can stay small, creating a safe, nurturing environment where children truly thrive.
We don’t have to worry about test scores, rigid structures, or pushing kids before they’re ready. Our only concern is helping each child flourish in their own way, at their own pace. And that kind of freedom is only available when you step outside the public and private school systems.
And we’re not alone in this. All across Pennsylvania and the country, more and more microschools and hybrid programs are stepping outside of traditional education, offering similar flexibility and child-centered approaches. Fáilte Microschool is part of a growing movement that’s focused on doing what’s best for kids, not what’s required by outdated systems.
For now, we choose to stay out of the formal system. This can make our schools inconvenient for some and inaccessible for others. But, as the microschool movement grows, we aim to advocate for legislative change that will make these innovative education models accessible to all families regardless of financial means or location.
We are building a new way forward, one child at a time, one school year at a time.
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