Self-Directed Education
Resource Directory

The fastest growing areas of the school choice movement in the past few years have included homeschooling and microschools. Creative teachers, parents, and community members have generated a huge range of exciting opportunities and programs for these students and families. Both the pace of growth and range of activities are breathtaking. In this landscape, where does Self-Directed Education (SDE) fit in? How many of these options start by asking young people what they want to learn and how they want to learn it? How many programs offer partial attendance, or allow students full choice over their schedules? Is self-directed learning a large part, a minor part, or nothing more than a blip in this school choice movement? Kerry McDonald has more perspective and information than nearly anyone on these questions. She will share her thoughts about how SDE fits into the legislative, financial, and legal landscape of the Microschools movement as well as the biggest challenges and opportunities.

Kerry McDonald is the host of the LiberatED Podcast. McDonald is the author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well‐​Educated Children outside the Conventional Classroom and the recently released Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling.