Amid the dynamic landscape of educational options, a distinct initiative within a local charter-school network’s venture into microschooling emerges as exceptional and holds great promise as a model worth duplicating.
Gem Prep, a network encompassing seven K–12 charter schools in rural Idaho, supported by a successful online school, initiated an experiment termed Learning Societies at the commencement of the 2022–23 academic year. Two publicly funded Learning Societies debuted in August 2022: one in Emmett, a small community located 30 miles northwest of Boise, accommodating 22 students in grades 1–5, and another in Lewiston, northern Idaho, catering to seven students in grades 1–5.
The fundamental concept revolves around addressing the needs of parents who, for various reasons, are hesitant about traditional schooling but lack the time, inclination, or capacity to homeschool or oversee a full-time online program. Learning Societies offer a close-knit setting where children, under the guidance of professional educators, engage in online learning and small, in-person group sessions for six hours each day. Gem Prep leaders describe it as a balanced middle ground between conventional schooling and at-home online education, particularly suitable for rural areas.
While the inaugural year at both Learning Society locations encountered challenges, these difficulties yielded valuable insights that Gem Prep leaders are confident will fortify the program as it expands to new sites and additional grade levels.
Throughout the Learning Societies’ debut year, I monitored their progress for Bluum, a Boise-based nonprofit supporting entrepreneurial educational endeavors. I made two visits to each center—once early in the academic year and once toward its conclusion—and maintained regular contact with teachers, parents, and Gem Prep administrators.
The robust academic program became evident as parents, despite operational and procedural hiccups especially in the initial months, remained committed to the initiative, resulting in minimal attrition.
Although online schools often face criticism for poor academic outcomes, Gem Prep Online stands apart. Despite 35% of its students being eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (higher than the state average of 27%), Gem Prep Online consistently surpasses state averages in student achievement. In the 2021–22 academic year, the online school boasted the state’s highest performance on the Idaho Reading Indicator for students in grades K–3, thanks to its locally developed curriculum refined over a decade.
The majority of Learning Society students hailed from underperforming rural districts (Emmett) or were previously homeschooled. In both Emmett and Lewiston, most students joining the program exhibited academic levels significantly below their grade, with only 18% scoring proficient on fall state-mandated reading assessments.
Learning Societies have the potential to strike a balance by harnessing the strengths of both homeschooling or online learning from home and a traditional brick-and-mortar school. The concept emerged among Gem Prep staff and leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic when remote learning became necessary.
For families where parents couldn’t stay home due to work commitments, this presented a considerable challenge. Their children learned remotely, requiring adult supervision to navigate online systems.
In some regions, including Idaho, families formed informal “pandemic pods”—parent-led learning groups. However, Gem Prep leaders pondered the possibility of a school staffed by educators offering a similar service statewide, even post-pandemic.
Thus, the concept of Learning Societies was born.
“By several measures, Gem Prep Online is a top school in the state,” stated Jason Bransford, Gem Prep’s CEO. “The ability to provide that access for families lacking a full-time adult at home is a compelling aspect of the Learning Societies narrative.”
The Origins
Gem Prep Online originated in 2004 as the Idaho Distance Education Academy, evolving into Gem Innovation Schools. In 2014, its inaugural physical school opened in Pocatello. Presently, Gem Prep operates six physical schools across various Idaho locations, complementing Gem Prep Online, with plans for expansion to Ammon by 2025, aiming to serve 4,600 students statewide. Noted for academic excellence, these schools promote student autonomy as they progress through grade levels.
In the higher high school years, many Gem Prep students rarely attend campus, often opting for independent online work or in-person college classes. The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a 40% surge in Gem Prep Online enrollment, as parents sought educational options maintaining grade-level learning or preventing significant learning gaps. This shift allowed parents a glimpse into their children’s education, leading some to seek alternative learning approaches.
Consequently, some communities formed learning co-ops, reaching out to Gem Prep for support due to its track record in rigorous online learning. This prompted the creation of Learning Societies, aiming to bridge the gap between online and traditional schooling, particularly aiding families where parents worked outside the home.
To ensure the success of Learning Societies, Gem Prep aimed for a curriculum maintaining the same rigor as its online and physical schools. Initially attracting homeschoolers seeking professional guidance without conflicting values, Gem Prep sought to align their approach while upholding their emphasis on excellence before flexibility.
Despite initial alignment challenges, Gem Prep emphasized the importance of students’ innate drive for high-quality work and self-directed learning within Learning Societies. As the program expands into upper grades, the concept of earned autonomy will play a pivotal role, relieving some pressure on staff juggling multiple grade levels—a notable challenge for the program.
Learning Societies in the Microschooling Ecosystem
Gem Prep’s Learning Societies stand out within the microschooling sphere, predominantly occupied by private entities with diverse formal structures that typically involve tuition fees. Don Soifer, co-founder of the National Microschooling Center, noted the rarity of government involvement in this realm, deeming Gem Prep’s model as a unique novelty.
Microschools, as they’ve emerged, generally fall into three categories, none of which align precisely with Gem Prep’s approach. Independent schools, resembling pandemic pods in size and intent to remain small, comprise one category. The second, less common, involves “partnership” microschools often organized by employers and funded by entities like cities. Families opting for these schools withdraw from local districts to homeschool. The third category involves provider networks—companies establishing microschools in states favoring school choice programs like Education Savings Accounts or vouchers, with examples such as Acton Academy, Prenda, and KaiPod.
Soifer highlighted Great Hearts Academies, primarily a charter network operating classical academies, which has ventured into online education and might consider a model akin to Learning Societies in the future. However, as of now, Gem Prep’s Learning Societies remain distinctive in their approach.
Lessons Learned in Year One
Gem Prep’s Learning Societies underwent a significant learning curve during their inaugural year in Emmett and Lewiston, leading to crucial insights essential for the smoother launch of the new Learning Society in Payette in 2023–24. Additionally, it laid the groundwork for expanding grade levels in Lewiston and Emmett into high school within the same academic year.
Effective and transparent communication with families emerged as a key takeaway. While parents universally praised the academic progress of their students, some initially misunderstood the program’s operational essence. Clearer articulation of the Learning Societies’ association with Gem Prep Online, emphasizing regular attendance over drop-in convenience, became a focal point for improvement.
The hiring process for educators underwent refinement. Initially envisaging a paraprofessional-led structure supplemented by parent volunteers, Gem Prep realized the necessity of experienced teachers for successful Learning Societies. Leadership qualities and adaptability became crucial attributes, observed in experienced Gem Prep teachers, crucial for the program’s success.
A recurring concern was the student-to-staff ratio. Parents expressed worries about overwhelming workloads for staff, especially in Lewiston, necessitating an adequate number of supervising adults to avoid neglecting students, particularly those in higher grade levels.
Flexibility in adapting to feedback became a hallmark of Gem Prep’s approach. Adjustments in school hours and allocation of time for live sessions, independent study, and in-person interaction with adults evolved based on parental and educator feedback. Continuous adaptability will remain crucial for the program’s growth and success.
Encouragingly, significant academic progress was noted among students, with a remarkable improvement in reading proficiency and strong growth across demographics in math and language arts. Enrollment figures for the upcoming year reflect positive parental endorsement of the program’s efficacy.
Gem Prep administrators approach the future cautiously, aiming for deliberate expansion based on parental interest, suitable infrastructure, and qualified leadership. Securing committed parents, appropriate physical spaces, and adept leaders will determine the program’s scalability and success.
CEO Jason Bransford expressed enthusiasm about Learning Societies’ potential while acknowledging the learning curve and the need for continual growth and improvement. Gem Prep remains optimistic about the transformative impact of Learning Societies on Idaho families.
