What is Open Education?

Education That Adapts to Your Child—Not the Other Way Around.

What is Open Education?

Education That Adapts to Your Child—Not the Other Way Around.

Personaliz(ed) Learning
for Every Child

Open education starts with a simple observation: no two children learn in exactly the same way, at the same pace, or for the same reasons. Every learner brings a unique blend of strengths, curiosities, and ways of understanding the world.

No Child Is Standard

Open education starts with a simple observation: no two children learn in exactly the same way, at the same pace, or for the same reasons.

Every learner brings a unique blend of strengths, curiosities, and ways of understanding the world.

For generations, families faced a binary choice—traditional school or homeschool, public or private, all in or all out. Today, those walls are dissolving.

Here's What It Looks Like:

A child pursuing an open education might play volleyball at the local public school, take online math through Khan Academy, join a weekly homeschool co-op for science labs, work with a private tutor for SAT prep, and take an Outschool class on coding Minecraft mods.

Parents are discovering they can combine Charlotte Mason nature studies with Montessori math materials, enroll in a microschool three days a week, and use AI tutors for personalized practice.

These aren't edge cases anymore—they're becoming the norm. Traditional brick-and-mortar schools are increasingly viewed as just one component in a child's education rather than a one-stop shop. Families are unbundling these services and rebuilding them in ways that work for their children.

Why Open Education?

A child pursuing an open education might play volleyball at the local public school, take online math through Khan Academy, join a weekly homeschool co-op for science labs, work with a private tutor for SAT prep, and take an Outschool class on coding Minecraft mods.

Parents are discovering they can combine Charlotte Mason nature studies with Montessori math materials, enroll in a microschool three days a week, and use AI tutors for personalized practice.

These aren't edge cases anymore—they're becoming the norm. Traditional brick-and-mortar schools are increasingly viewed as just one component in a child's education rather than a one-stop shop. Families are unbundling these services and rebuilding them in ways that work for their children.

Here's What It
Looks Like:

A child pursuing an open education might play volleyball at the local public school, take online math through Khan Academy, join a weekly homeschool co-op for science labs, work with a private tutor for SAT prep, and take an Outschool class on coding Minecraft mods.

Parents are discovering they can combine Charlotte Mason nature studies with Montessori math materials, enroll in a microschool three days a week, and use AI tutors for personalized practice.

These aren't edge cases anymore—they're becoming the norm. Traditional brick-and-mortar schools are increasingly viewed as just one component in a child's education rather than a one-stop shop. Families are unbundling these services and rebuilding them in ways that work for their children.

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Why Now?

Technology has already personalized every corner of modern life. We work remotely, stream entertainment on demand, and build businesses from our laptops. Yet education often remains frozen in an industrial model—bell schedules, age-based groupings, and standardized tests.

The numbers tell the story: parent satisfaction with traditional education has hit a 25-year low. Homeschooling has nearly doubled in five years. Microschools and learning pods have exploded.

During the pandemic, millions of parents got a front-row seat to their children's education and discovered they could be architects, not just spectators, of the learning experience.The infrastructure for truly personalized learning is here.

Core Principles of an
Open Education

Open education isn't a rejection of any single approach. It's a mindset that invites families to open every door, take what works, and design an education around the child rather than forcing the child to fit the system.

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Parents know their children best.

Your intuition about what sparks your child's curiosity is valid data.

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Children aren't standard.

Progress is measured by competency, not seat time.

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Learning is naturally joyful.

Open environments protect that spark through exploration and real-world projects.

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Real preparation beats test preparation.

Employers value creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving far more than standardized scores.

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Freedom requires community.

Families need mentors, funding support, and connection with others on similar journeys. Open education builds networks that share wisdom and resources.

Open education book with Matt Bowman, Isaac Morehouse , and #1 best seller.

Get your copy of the #1 Amazon Bestselling book Open Education today.

Open(Ed) Method

With an open education, your role shifts from being the sole teacher to
being a curator, a guide, and a facilitator. We've built this into the OpenEd program.

Discover ->

Understand your child's unique strengths, interests, and learning style through observation and simple assessment tools.

Design -> 

Act as the architect of your child's education by curating a customized plan. Mix resources, schedules, and methods that align with your discoveries.

Support -> 

Access tangible resources through programs like OpenEd that make quality curricula, tutors, and classes affordable.

Connect -> 

Join communities of like-minded families for support, resource sharing, and social opportunities.

Thrive

Continuously adapt your approach as your child grows, celebrating progress and adjusting when needed.

Your Pathways to an Open Education:

The pathways below aren't rigid tracks—they're starting points for exploration. Here, you can dive into different philosophies, discover curricula, find online and in-person programs, and see how other families blend elements from multiple approaches. Each pathway opens a door to deeper resources and stories from families already walking that road.

Classical Education

A time-tested approach using the Trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric), Great Books, and Socratic dialogue to develop critical thinking and cultural literacy.

Montessori Education

Self-directed learning with specialized materials in prepared environments. Emphasizes independence, mixed-age groups, and hands-on discovery.

Virtual School

Online learning platforms and digital curricula that provide flexibility and access to specialized courses, ranging from full-time programs to individual classes.

Microschooling

Small, multi-age groups (typically 5-15 students) meeting in homes or community spaces. Combines personalized attention with peer interaction and shared resources.

Traditional Homeschooling (coming soon)

Full parent-led education with complete curriculum choice and schedule flexibility. Families select materials, set the pace, and often supplement with co-ops, tutors, or online classes.

Unschooling & Deschooling

Child-led learning based on natural interests and real-world experiences. Emphasizes intrinsic motivation and trusts in children's innate desire to learn.

Nature-Based Learning

Outdoor education emphasizing environmental connection, seasonal rhythms, and experiential learning through direct contact with the natural world.

Waldorf Education

A holistic approach focused on developing the whole child through imagination, arts, and practical skills in developmentally appropriate stages.

Charlotte Mason Method

A literature-rich approach using "living books," nature study, and habit training. Emphasizes short lessons, narration, and exposure to beautiful ideas.

AI & Adaptive Learning

Technology-powered personalization using intelligent tutoring systems and adaptive platforms that adjust to an individual's pace and level of mastery.

Hybrid & Competency-Based Learning

A blend of in-person and online learning where students advance by demonstrating mastery rather than by time spent in a seat.

Apprenticeships & Real-World Learning

Hands-on education through mentorship, internships, and actual work experience that builds portfolios and professional connections.

Explore Curricula by Subject

Looking for the perfect math curriculum or hands-on STEM project? Use our tools to filter and explore hundreds of vetted curricula and resources by subject, learning style, and more to find the perfect fit for your family.

Potential Pathways

These aren't rigid tracks—they're starting points for exploration.
(Most families blend elements from several.)

Classical Education

A time-tested approach using the Trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric), Great Books, and Socratic dialogue to develop critical thinking and cultural literacy.
Read more

Montessori Education

Self-directed learning with specialized materials in prepared environments. Emphasizes independence, mixed-age groups, and hands-on discovery.
Read more

Virtual School

Online learning platforms and digital curricula that provide flexibility and access to specialized courses, ranging from full-time programs to individual classes.
Read more

Microschooling

Small, multi-age groups (typically 5-15 students) meeting in homes or community spaces. Combines personalized attention with peer interaction and shared resources.
Read more

Traditional Homeschooling

Full parent-led education with complete curriculum choice and schedule flexibility. Families select materials, set the pace, and often supplement with co-ops, tutors, or online classes.

Unschooling & Deschooling

Child-led learning based on natural interests and real-world experiences. Emphasizes intrinsic motivation and trusts in children's innate desire to learn.

Nature-Based Learning

Outdoor education emphasizing environmental connection, seasonal rhythms, and experiential learning through direct contact with the natural world.

Waldorf Education

A holistic approach focused on developing the whole child through imagination, arts, and practical skills in developmentally appropriate stages.

Charlotte Mason Method

A literature-rich approach using "living books," nature study, and habit training. Emphasizes short lessons, narration, and exposure to beautiful ideas.

AI & Adaptive Learning

Technology-powered personalization using intelligent tutoring systems and adaptive platforms that adjust to an individual's pace and level of mastery.

Hybrid & Competency-Based Learning

A blend of in-person and online learning where students advance by demonstrating mastery rather than by time spent in a seat.

Apprenticeships & Real-World Learning

Hands-on education through mentorship, internships, and actual work experience that builds portfolios and professional connections.
Explore Curricula by Subject

Start Your Open Education Journey Today

Open education isn't about finding the one perfect approach—it's about building the right combination for your family right now.