I write as a parent celebrating educational freedom and microschooling in Arkansas because the East of Ordinary Microschool and its educators in Arkadelphia have been so vital to my son Aaden’s educational journey. East of Ordinary has benefited him academically,...
As a parent, lifelong learner, CEO in the learning and development space and a strong advocate for educational freedom, I firmly believe parents should have the right to choose the educational environment that best fits their children’s unique needs. Whether that is...
Microschools offer something truly amazing for children, especially those who struggle in the traditional classroom. In our family, East of Ordinary Microschool has made a huge difference in my child’s confidence and overall learning experience. Before attending, he...
As a parent in Arkansas, I am writing to share how the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) scholarship has fundamentally changed the trajectory of my children’s lives. Before receiving this scholarship, my children were in an environment where safety,...
I am so grateful for the educational resources and culture I have encountered in Arkansas. We are an international, multilingual family (French-British-American). Not being originally from here, it has been a surprise to me to encounter such a large homeschooling...
Individualized education is paramount to our family. When a child can move at their optimal pace, delve deeper into subjects they're passionate about, and receive specific support where needed, that builds confidence, fosters genuine curiosity, and truly empowers the...
Finding the “right” path for a child’s education is never easy, because it is - or should be - an ongoing process of evaluation. Our family lives in a smaller community served by two large and growing public school districts. We decided to homeschool but were...
My husband and I, both from Northeast Arkansas, recently moved back after 12 years in Central Missouri. While being near family was part of our decision, having more school choice was a major factor. Our children attended public school in Missouri and generally had a...
Please allow an unapologetically proud mama just a moment, as I want to share my pride in my son Drake and my gratitude to those who’ve helped him achieve his goals. You see, when Drake was young, he always had a lot of medical issues – being born early, lungs...
As a parent living in Benton, I have seen firsthand how the traditional public school system can fail to meet the needs of Black and Brown children and families. In my experience, Black students are often treated unfairly and ignored, and their parents’ concerns are...
Our daughter’s life started out rough. She was born premature with many struggles. We didn’t learn about her High Functioning Autism until later when she struggled while in the public school system. We kept getting complaints about her from the staff. She was being...
My children did fine attending public school, but, as a volunteer there and being aware of how they were doing, I could tell they needed something different. Sure, they might come home grumpy or exhausted, as kids do, but it was more than that. They weren’t being...
A stranger’s kindness changed my son’s life. Though he complained even back to pre-k that he “saw things backward” and despite my pushing for evaluation, he was going into third grade in the local public school before he was tested and diagnosed with ADHD and...
My daughter Kyndal, 11 and in sixth grade, is now in her second year receiving the donor-funded Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) tax credit scholarship, which allows her to attend West Memphis Christian School. She had been in virtual schooling for...
My family chose homeschool for our children for a variety of reasons, but primarily we wanted to tailor the educational experience to their specific needs, interests and learning styles. This individualized approach allows me to adapt curriculum, teaching methods and...
I am writing to share my family’s experience with Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) this year, hoping it might be helpful for new families who are becoming eligible for EFAs next school year. My daughter, who has autism, faced significant challenges in the public...
My husband and I are so grateful for all the donations to the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) scholarship, and we were really delighted to hear that it has grown this year and can help more students like our great-granddaughter Angelina. She has had...
Our family had a unique experience seeking an Educational Freedom Account (EFA) for not just one, but two children after the LEARNS Act passed. We have one child who qualified, having received the Succeed Scholarship. The financial support it provided to send our...
My husband and I understand how every child needs a specific learning environment to succeed. Our oldest son was an academic achiever who never needed help on homework and has successfully earned multiple college degrees. But our youngest has had a different journey....
I want to thank Arkansans everywhere who have contributed to the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids program and encourage others to do the same. By designating your sales-tax bill for scholarship funding, you create something special for my granddaughter Teegan...
When covid started, I was a single mom trying to teach two special-needs children with two very different abilities by myself. Trying to juggle work, teaching, and taking both my boys to their different therapies alone was defeating. But I knew they could not reach...
When we talk about how every child has different educational needs, we must also remember that these extend outside the classroom. In our family, that means time together, which might have been very limited since my husband often works afternoons, nights and weekends....
Individualized education is vital to a child’s success. This type of education helps both the child and their family, whether parent or guardian, feel a sense of pride and commitment because they are able to embark on a journey unique to each but common to both. They...
This fall I’m launching a microschool in northeast Arkansas called ACRES, meaning aspire, create, revolutionize, explore and succeed. It’s not just an acronym; it’s a mission. I’ve been a teacher my entire professional career because I want to inspire others and...
Our family embraced the new educational freedom account program for the opportunities it will afford our youngest, Jaxon, 11, who in addition to ADHD and dyslexia, was diagnosed with high-functioning autism this spring. Our experience with both the local school...