Great Hearts Academies, which operates a network of public charter schools in Arizona and Texas, is getting ready to launch a new learning option for students and families: microschools. These are learning communities that are typically smaller than traditional schools.
The new learning option will be available to students attending Great Hearts’ online classes. The idea is to offer these students in-person socialization and learning opportunities outside of the online curriculum they already receive, said Kurtis Indorf, president of Great Hearts Nova, a new division overseeing the launch of Great Hearts Microschools.
“We see Great Hearts microschools as the best of both online and the best of brick and mortar coming together in small, flexible communities," he said.
Indorf envisions the microschools as spaces where students can have in-person conversations, play sports, engage in science experiments and other engagement activities and have small group tutoring and support as they complete their academic work. The opportunities will vary at each microschool.
Great Hearts Online is free to students, but Indorf said families interested in this new opportunity will need to pay a tuition fee that will be set and collected by the founder of each microschool to cover operating costs. Great Hearts is currently in the process of interviewing potential founders. These individuals don't necessary need an formal education background to qualify, but Indorf said founders will need to go through background checks, fingerprinting and intensive reference checks.
Great Hearts is hoping to launch its first microschools by January.
