VELA

Tobin Slaven decided the traditional school system wasn't good enough for his own five kids. So he and his wife built something better, Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale. Four years in: Gold Status 3 years running, 90% retention, growing toward 100+ learners who do hard things and earn new levels of freedom every day. This is Indie Education.

VELA awarded 48 microgrants across 27 states in March, totaling $455,000. The dominant story? Demand. Waitlists. Full classrooms. 100% re-enrollment. Families voting with their wallets, year after year. This is Indie Education. And it's not slowing down.

Outdoor education is booming! Families are choosing flexible, hands-on learning. Case in point: Carolina Kids Co-op started with 12 kids, and now serves ~1,000 across 4 states. VELA invested to help this model multiply. This is Indie Education. Full @StandTogether story👇

Felicia Rattray couldn't find a school that truly saw her autistic child. So she built one. Permission to Succeed: a microschool where neurodivergent and neurotypical kids learn without judgment, grow at their own pace, and take ownership of their journey. VELA's reinvestment is helping them expand.

Over 40 VELA Founders attended the National Hybrid Schools Conference. More than half were on panels. The message was clear: Indie Education is not fringe. It's the future. Join us in shaping the future of education. Download the VELA app today!

Traditional school wasn't a fit for Ella Langley. Homeschool was. Explore Indie Education options near you on the VELA app today.

Lauren Yacht and Sarah Lavezzo founded Scholé for their own kids. Learners who needed more than the traditional classroom could offer. When 80%+ of families return year after year, you don't hope someone else builds what's next. You build it yourself. Scholé is launching a high school program, and VELA's reinvestment is making it possible.

85–95% retention. Zero advertising. 70-student waitlist. When homeschool families call your program "family," you've found what families are looking for. Greenhouse Christian Learning proves faith-based hybrid programs can thrive. This is Indie Education.

This student wanted to build a rocket for a school project. His school connected him with actual engineering experts to make it happen, with the help of @VELAorg.

Microschools are surging because families are done waiting for reform. MSN highlights the surge, featuring VELA founders Hannah Holguin of Masterpiece Academy, Amanda Lucas of Lucas Literacy Lab, Lisa Swinson of Creative Microschool, Justine Wilson of Curious and Kind Education, and Eric Threeton of Nevada School of Inquiry. They're leading the Indie Education movement, proving families want personalized, demand-driven learning. Read more: bit.ly/48mGXJm

Every child deserves nature-rooted, creativity-fueled learning regardless of income or neurotype. Kendra Maister built The Indie Sol Enrichment around that belief. 120+ students. 2 locations. Consistent waitlists. VELA's reinvestment fuels facility expansion to serve even more learners.

Rebecca Ellis grew Canyon Creek Christian Academy from 27 students to 95 with a waitlist by building education as a partnership between trained teachers and parents, not a system that sidelines families. This is Indie Education.

Indie Education is everywhere. Even on remote islands off the coast of South Carolina. Proud to support VELA Founder Kimberly Lundgren of Daufuskie Island Independent School!

A BIG, BIG congratulations to VELA Founder Natalie Mack on her selection as a @FiftyCAN National Voices Fellow. Natalie is bringing the voices of military homeschooling families to the national stage. 👏

Big shoutout to six amazing VELA founders awarded Yass Prize Alumni Expansion Investments & Grants! Meet the winners: City on a Hill Christian Academy, KaiPod Learning, Onward Learning, SOAR Academy, Charleston Classical, Rock by Rock. Together, they’re expanding education opportunities for thousands of learners. 👏

What if you didn't have to choose between a school that shares your faith and actually being involved in your kid's education? Melissa Mohr built that in WV, with a hybrid homeschool model. Enrollment has tripled, and there's a waitlist. Parents shouldn't have to compromise.

5 years ago: Kids refusing to go to school. Today, 23 students are waking up excited to learn. Melissa VanTil founded Thrive Learning Center for kids who were being overlooked. VELA's reinvestment helps programs like this last. This is the Indie Education movement.

Faith, common arts, and classical education combined. William Durant built St. John Paul II Independent School in Kansas to form the mind, heart, and hands. Monday-Thursday academics + Friday homeschool. Kids learn to cook, sew, garden, and work with wood and leather alongside great books and big ideas. VELA's investment supports a permanent facility to meet growing enrollment demand. This is Indie Education.

You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to start. No tutors. No perfect plan. Ben and Erin Napier decided this was the year they would start homeschooling. Slower mornings. No devices. This is what owning your education looks like in real life. Read more 👉 bit.ly/4cyR7sB