One reason educational freedom is so important is that it allows a variety of learning options to sprout and flourish. In recent years, classical education has experienced a resurgence.

Last year, a group of parents in rural Colorado wanted to open a classical charter school in their community because they weren’t satisfied with the local district’s curriculum. The district rejected the charter application.

Fortunately for the families involved, they discovered an alternative way to create their school. In Colorado, there are Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) that provide various services to local school districts. BOCES (pronounced BO‐​sees) are also empowered to start their own schools.

Education reEnvisioned BOCES (ERBOCES) operates statewide and its mission is “to expand availability and access to quality, innovative public education programs Colorado families and students seek.” When the local district rejected the classical charter school application, ERBOCES was there to help. And Merit Academy, which opened this year in Woodland Park, CO, is the result.

John Dill is one of the founders of Merit Academy. A 20‐​year Army vet, he and his wife were homeschooling their twins until this year because they didn’t like the Summit Learning program used by their district. He’s amazed how quickly they were able to get the new school up and running. Due to a legal challenge against ERBOCES, their approval was delayed until April. But they still managed to open the school on August 23. The school already has 185 full‐​time students as well as around 65 students participating in Merit Academy’s homeschool programs.

A primary goal at Merit Academy is to “grow students’ intellect and character to prepare them to be well informed and productive citizens.” The school utilizes the Core Knowledge® sequence (which, they emphasize, is not to be confused with Common Core) and a classical approach. School leaders believe this combination is the best way to provide students with great depth and breadth of knowledge—both within and across the various fields of study.

John says the community—especially the faith community—has been enormously supportive of the new school. The classes are currently split between a Methodist (K–5) and Lutheran (6–8) church while the school renovates a former hardware store. At first, they weren’t sure the store would work because there was no safe play space outdoors. Then the neighboring Catholic church offered to let the children use its playing fields. They hope to move to the new space later this month.

Merit Academy is currently K‑8 and plans to add one grade each year until it goes through 12^th grade. John noted there were some unanticipated challenges at the start of the year as many of the kids hadn’t been in school for 18 months. It took some time to get them used to it again. But now John says the children—including his own—are thriving.

Even in very rural areas, children need educational options. Thanks to the work of dedicated parents and the help of ERBOCES, Merit Academy is providing an option for kids in the mountains of Colorado.