How Edupreneurs Are Helping to Create Positive Change in the Educational System

Simply defined, an edupreneur is an entrepreneur with a focus on education. In light of the pandemic, many educators, parents and business owners have been inspired, perhaps out of desperation in some cases, to find or create innovative schooling options for their students. As a result of stepping outside of the “traditional school box”, some families have discovered a concept that works even better for their students than their previous experiences with school. 

Private, public and charter school districts around the country are now offering online or hybrid learning models and in some cases have adjusted in-person learning to be more adaptable to shift to online learning when necessary. While there is a lot of debate over how many of these changes will become a permanent part of the educational landscape, most agree that we are not likely to fully step back into our pre-covid ways. 

New educationally focused business models have surfaced providing opportunities for edupreneurs to support student success. A few of these opportunities include micro-schools and learning centers. These school models can not only be beneficial for students by supporting learning, but also offer attractive financial opportunities for edupreneurs. For example, an edupreneur can start a K-2 micro-school in the bonus room of their own home, or create a national learning center network for high school to early college students. The barriers to entry in this field as an edupreneur are surprisingly low. Additionally, many states offer grants and other funding sources to support these types of initiatives.  

Micro-schools

Micro-schools are small, oftentimes, one room school models that can provide learning and support for a group of students. Any edupreneur can start a micro-school as a private school, or in some states even a public virtual charter. Some states like West Virginia are now offering funding available to individual families through Educational Savings Accounts. The funding from ESA’s can allow parents to have more control when choosing the model that works best for their student.

Learning Centers

The learning center school model allows students to take their courses online while a learning center supports them by offering in-person tutoring, supplemental instruction, and enrichment opportunities. This model allows students to work independently and on an individualized plan but provides support and oversight outside of a home setting. Learning centers can support students in-person or offer online synchronous support and enrichment or both. These school models can offer shorter blocks of time that families can schedule to drop off their students or a more full-time oversight option.

As a result of increased changes in schooling models, some universities are also beginning to think differently about how we prepare educators to enter the workforce. Historically, teacher preparation programs have prepared graduates for careers in traditional in-person school models. With the expansion of schooling options on the rise, some universities are including a more entrepreneurial approach to preparing educators for the future. Some examples include, The Edupreneur Academy that offers badges and a certificate in Edupreneur Leadership. The University of Pennsylvania that offers an MSEd program in Education Entrepreneurship, Oklahoma State University Masters in Educational Leadership program is using the Edupreneur Leadership course and Southern New Hampshire University that offers a Masters of education degree specializing in online learning. 

As technology and the needs of our students continue to change, edupreneurs form and mold their attitudes and skills to meet the challenges of 21st century education. Our communities need educational entrepreneurs to find new ways to support, engage, and educate students at all levels. If you see an opportunity to change education and want to make a difference for students, you likely have what it takes to be an edupreneur.

Erin Starkey M.Ed.

Director of the Edupreneur Academy