“Every child deserves an excellent education,” says Steven Shadel, Director of Great Minds Schools. “In the aftermath of COVID-19, many families want that education to be virtual. Some are motivated by safety concerns, others like the flexibility it offers. Whatever their motivation, families increasingly need high‐​quality virtual education options.”

Founded in 2007 by a group of education advocates, Great Minds is an award‐​winning curriculum provider. A few years ago, company leaders began planning a tuition‐​free virtual school option that would utilize the Great Minds curriculum. When they saw the impact mediocre—or worse—remote instruction was having on children, they decided to move the launch date up.

Great Minds Virtual School will be opening for 6^th grade in Fall 2022 with up to 60 students divided into three cohorts. There will be live, synchronous instruction each morning with afternoons available for tutoring, enrichment, extracurriculars, etc. The full program is tuition‐​free, including instruction, tutoring, and curriculum resources. The school will mail kits quarterly that contain things like math manipulatives and science equipment.

Additional grades will be offered each year until the school is eventually grades 6–12. Teachers will provide quarterly progress reports. High school transcripts will also be provided when the high school is operational. The school is fully accredited and is even NCAA approved.

Great Minds has also formed a research partnership with Johns Hopkins University Institute for Education Policy to study their program, monitor successes and challenges, ensure high standards for students and teachers, and share best practices with other educators.

Steven expects the school will appeal to a wide variety of families. “We’ve talked to parents in rural areas who don’t have very many educational options and are excited by the possibilities with Great Minds,” he says. “And parents whose jobs involve frequent moves—like military or Fortune 500 careers—appreciate knowing their children wouldn’t have to transfer schools with each move.”

Great Minds is hosting virtual coffee chats to engage with prospective families. And, of course, there is a lot more information on their website. There are only 60 spots available in the inaugural class, so don’t delay if you’re interested.