FAQ
What is a Microschool?
Microschools are small, private learning institutions founded by parents and educators to better meet the individual needs of students. With small multi-age classrooms free from the bureaucracy and mandatory curriculum of the public school system, microschools are as unique as the students they serve.
Microschools typically serve between 5-30 multi-age students but can grow to serve up a much larger population of students. Common student:teacher ratios for microschools are between 4:1 and 9:1.
Microschools are commonly grassroots organizations that are birthed as a result of rethinking the traditional educational model.
Are microschools legal in West Virginia?
Yes! You can read the WV Code concerning exceptions from public school attendance here: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/18-8-1/. Microschools are listed in 18-8-1(n).
What does “kaizen” mean?
Kaizen is a compound of two Japanese words: kai’ meaning ‘change’ and ‘zen’ meaning ‘good’. It has come to mean “continuous improvement.”
At The Kaizen School, students’ success is only measured against themselves and never against their peers. Yet peer interaction and encouragement play a pivotal role in helping students achieve continuous improvement toward their learning goals.
How do I know if my child is a good fit for The Kaizen School?
Students who excel in the small multi-age classroom at The Kaizen School are curious and teachable learners. They want to learn! They may be focused, independent learners or they may require tools for self-regulation and time management.
The Kaizen student will be respectful to their peers and teachers and willing to improve their behaviors to allow others to succeed.
The Kaizen student may be neurotypical or they may have learning difficulties like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or sensory processing disorder.
We build trust and willingness to learn new skills with a combination of 1:1 instruction, multi-age small group instruction, and group projects.
How do I know if my educational goals for my children align with The Kaizen School?
As a parent, do you recognize that education is a lifelong process and not just a destination?
Do you want your child to master real-life skills? Do you agree that the best way to measure educational progress is not often with just a letter grade?
At The Kaizen School, we believe that assessment should be a blessing to the student! Since their goal is to learn, then any kind of assessment should provide feedback with the purpose of moving further toward mastery. The goal of learning is not to just “get a passing grade and then move on.”
What curriculum do you follow? And if my child is enrolled part-time, will I have to follow your curriculum for the rest of the week?
All curriculum is designed to serve the learner. Since no two learners are alike, we utilize a variety of curricula in order to meet the needs of the diverse learners we serve.
Upon enrollment for full-time students, I will meet with parents and students to set learning goals and determine the curriculum path for each student.
For part-time students, some things will be the same for everyone and then I will customize the rest to fit your needs. Everyone will participate in public speaking, current events, art, scientific journaling, geography, group projects, and memory work in multiple subjects including Scripture and poetry. The rest of the time will be designed around each student's needs as communicated by the parent. It could be just about anything you want! (Could be math, writing, grammar, literature, etc.)
Part-time students are not required to follow any specific curriculum on their off-days, unless parents agree to that kind of setup.
The Kaizen School values the diverse perspectives, experiences, and opinions of all people groups of the world. We will always seek to enrich students' lives by exposing them to and teaching them to value differing viewpoints.
Are you a faith-based program?
Yes. Students will be taught that God is their Creator and that we are called to serve our Creator and each other. They will learn that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended into heaven in order to save all humanity from sin and redeem all of creation!
How do I pay tuition?
Kate will work with each family to create a payment plan that works best. Some families may choose to make two total payments, one at the beginning of each semester. Other families may choose to pay monthly, or even twice per month. Payments will be accepted as check, cash, Venmo, or PayPal.
Are there other expenses besides tuition?
Yes, there is a curriculum fee. Also, there will be a few field trips throughout the year for full-time students which parents will be expected to pay a total of $75-$125 per student.
Curriculum Fee
($400 for Option A students and $200 for Option B students)
My child is a Hope Scholarship recipient. Can I pay my child’s tuition and fees through their educational savings account?
Yes! The Kaizen School is a Hope Scholarship Educational Services Provider.
How do I apply for the Hope Scholarship?
The application for the 2024-25 school year is available HERE.
I'm ready! How can my child become a Kaizen student?
03
Informal family interview and school tour
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Upon acceptance, parents will submit a deposit equal to the 1st two week's tuition to secure their spot.
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Submit all enrollment forms and curriculum fee.
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Meet with the teacher to set learning goals and determine the curriculum plan for the year.
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Receive a schedule of payments for tuition and fees.
