ProPublica Journalists Successfully Launch Private Schools to Expose Minimal Regulatory Barriers

ProPublica reporters established private schools in multiple states to investigate how easily individuals without teaching experience or relevant qualifications can found educational institutions. The investigation found that in states like Arkansas, the process requires minimal documentation, including just a form submission, a nominal fee, and basic items like an American flag. The reporters' experiment revealed that regulatory barriers to opening schools, particularly microschools, are substantially lower than one might expect.

ProPublica's investigative journalists partnered with regional news outlets to test private school establishment procedures across multiple states. The reporters deliberately chose to use their actual identities and organizational affiliations while navigating state registration systems, deliberately avoiding deception. Their findings revealed stark differences in regulatory stringency: Arkansas required only minimal documentation and a modest filing fee, West Virginia requested proof of educational attainment but little else, and North Carolina allowed online registration with minimal verification. Throughout the process, no state officials inquired about the applicants' teaching credentials, educational philosophy, curriculum plans, or student assessment methodologies.

The emergence of microschools—small-scale private institutions serving limited student populations—appears to create additional regulatory gaps beyond traditional private schools. These institutions, which are expanding across the country, face even fewer operational requirements during their founding stages.