Cato Podcast Five* Types of Innovative "Schools"
Oct 30, 2025
Colleen Hroncich, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, dives into innovative education models. She explores micro schools and personalized learning, hybrid schools, and the evolution of pandemic-era learning pods. Colleen discusses how education savings accounts allow for customized learning experiences while shedding light on forest schools and nature-based curricula. The conversation also touches on funding disparities and the challenges faced by founders of new school models, all highlighting the need for diverse schooling options to enrich society.
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Autonomy Drives Educational Innovation
- Educational freedom produces innovation by giving parents and teachers autonomy to try new models.
- Competition on a level financial playing field lets specialized schools flourish beyond a government monopoly.
Tiny Micro School, Big Gains
- A micro school Colleen toured had five students and served children with special needs out of a home.
- That tiny setting produced large academic progress compared with their prior schools.
Blended Models Use Unbundled Funding
- Hybrid and a la carte models mix in-person days with home or specialty instruction to customize learning.
- Education savings accounts enable parents to fund many blended choices rather than one bundled school.
