Education Technology
Building a Thriving Microschool Community in Los Angeles
Small, personalized learning environments are filling gaps left by traditional education systems, even without robust state funding support
Key takeaways
Compass Educators grew from a pandemic-era tutoring solution into a full microschool model serving Los Angeles families.
California's lack of ESA funding means microschool founders must rely on community support, grants, and family tuition to sustain operations.
Lizette Valles's work with the California Microschool Collective and National Microschooling Center is expanding the ecosystem for new school founders statewide.
As traditional schooling models continue to face scrutiny, a growing number of parents and educators are opting out of conventional systems in favor of more personalized learning experiences. Microschools—small, flexible, learner-centered environments—are gaining traction nationwide, even in states like California where public funding avenues like Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are limited. The growing movement towards microschooling reflects both a response to unmet educational needs and a spirit of innovation among families and educators.
So, how do you launch and sustain a microschool in a place like Los Angeles and who are the families opting in?
In this episode of The Future of Education, host Michael Horn speaks with Lizette Valles, M.Ed.—a pioneering educator, community builder, and the founder of Compass Educators. Together, they explore how Valles has grown a trauma-informed, holistic microschool and tutoring center into a movement that's helping reshape education in California and beyond.
Key topics in this episode include:
- How Compass Educators grew from a pandemic-era tutoring solution into a full-fledged microschool model.
- What it takes to launch and sustain a microschool in California without public funding—and why some families are choosing this path.
- How Lizette's work as California Field Coordinator for the National Microschooling Center is supporting a rapidly expanding ecosystem of founders and families.
Lizette Valles, M.Ed., is a seasoned educator and founder of multiple education initiatives, including Compass Educators and Ellemercito Academy, where she specializes in trauma-informed, holistic, and personalized learning. As co-founder of the California Microschool Collective and former Field Coordinator for the National Microschooling Center, she supports new school founders and advocates for equitable school choice options. With over 17 years in education, she is also a published bilingual children's author, national speaker, and recipient of grants from VELA and ASU Prep for her innovative work in learner-centered education.
About the author
Michael Horn speaks and writes about the future of education and works with a portfolio of education organizations to improve the life of each and every student. He is the co-founder of and a distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, and host of the Future of Education podcast on MarketScale.
