Reimagining Learning Through Microschools
From January through April 2026, Learner-Centered Collaborative partnered with five Southern California school districts to support a cohort of educators in designing innovative, learner-centered microschools within their existing systems. Grounded in a human-centered design approach, this work enabled teams to move from identifying learner needs to developing scalable, implementation-ready models.
43
Participants
6
Design Teams
5
Launch-Ready
2026
Launch Year
What We're Building
Six Southern California design teams are creating innovative microschools that launch in 2026. Each school is designed by educators, designers, and community leaders to bring a unique, learner-centered vision to their community.
What is a Microschool?
At its core, a microschool is not just a classroom experimenting with new practices. It is a distinct learning community.
What elevates a microschool beyond pilot initiatives is the container it creates. Within that container, educators aren't only designing learning experiences—they are designing systems. Bell schedules, use of time, grouping of learners, and enabling conditions are all reimagined together.
Key Principles of a Microschool
- →50–150 learners
- →Teams of educators working together
- →Operating in a self-contained structure for at least part of the day
- →Granting flexibility over schedules, staffing, and learning design
Learn More
Explore research and frameworks that inform the design of public microschools.