@propublica: We have no business running a private school. We’re reporters, not teachers. But inexperience has hardly been a barrier for those who want to start their own schools. And it didn’t stop us, either. Our reporting has shown the relative ease with which people — some with questionable backgrounds — founded their own schools in unusual places. All of this led to a clear reporting question: If the hurdles to open a private school are so low, could we do it? Over the last few months, reporters from ProPublica partnered with local journalists in three states to try to establish private schools. None required much effort. Watch ProPublica reporter Jennifer Smith Richards and Mountain State Spotlight reporter Henry Culvyhouse craft their own notice of intent for a new school in West Virginia: ProPublica-Mountain State Spotlight Curiosity Academy. Head to the link in our bio to read the full story.

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Monday 26 October 2026 21:34:43 GMT
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cordeliareagan
Cordelia Reagan :
Obsessed with this duo first of all.
2026-10-26 22:38:04
7477
christiansilva3050608
chris305 :
And they get massive PUBLIC FUNDING 😡😡😡
2026-10-26 22:50:56
5223
graves_681
🤖 account :
More on the ground journalism from this duo please.
2026-10-27 00:02:00
456
alexrunyonlol
Alex Runyon :
Holy shit it’s Henry Culvyhouse
2026-10-27 01:25:50
1
mandaleegh
Mandaleegh :
My parents registered as a private school in the state of Louisiana because it was either then registering as homeschool from 1-12grade for me. They submitted next to no documentation of my education the entire 12 year span (because there was no education) and never had an issue. As someone who was denied an education because of this, I find it infuriating!
2026-10-27 01:08:37
125
freakette_
Freakette ✨ :
I’m gonna start calling that bit of notebook paper “the crunchies” now thanks Henry
2026-10-26 23:12:25
1188
leighberti
Leighberti :
If it weren’t for the electronics I’d think this video was from the 90’s
2026-10-26 22:27:58
415
mylenevans
Mylen :
I like the format for this. Instead of a one sided explanation to a future audience, you're just filming yourself explaining it to some dude. 🤣🥰
2026-10-26 22:42:13
1777
euphoricpentagram
Lilly :
Time to make my own school, enroll myself and pass all my classes, and give myself a diploma/phd
2026-10-26 22:53:08
179
flip_ina
Buhay ni Tisay 🇵🇭 🇺🇸 :
As they continue to close down our public schools
2026-10-26 23:23:12
1855
thugginlikepac7
ThugginLikePac :
Exact reason why I took my autistic child out of private and into public when I found out private has not rules,policies, or regulations from the government. No oversight at all
2026-10-26 23:29:55
323
docmcrn
K- Drizzy :
"microschool" but unlimited students. even that part somehow makes less sense
2026-10-26 22:10:54
1453
hexie.bexie
Beckers Bee 🐝 🍉 :
This is terrifying. I hate it
2026-10-26 23:13:48
81
kimhem104
kimhem10 :
“You don’t reckon they’re callin the law, do you?” 😬
2026-10-27 00:15:19
61
alaskanish_art
Alaskanish Art :
It’s insane but also does not surprise me at all. Our system is just so broken.
2026-10-26 22:16:16
123
vestigialtaco
David Garcia :
Binged a Nexpo video on Creative Society earlier today and hearing creative in the ‘school name’ got me messed up 🫨
2026-10-27 05:29:02
0
philold09
philold09 :
“We’re not actually trying to teach kids”- most private schools truthfully
2026-10-27 04:39:20
0
teenytinypenguin
Teeny tiny penguin :
Yep. And in my state they will then give parents a voucher to pay the tuition 😒
2026-10-26 23:03:09
194
anawins71
anawins :
is it the same process to open a church?
2026-10-26 23:42:49
189
nurseheart
HoldTheLight :
What the heck is a micro-school? Why do they get public funds without having to meet competency requirements? It’s harder to get WIC for babies.
2026-10-26 23:29:45
62
oktedbundy
Lector :
Arkansas has some of the most relaxed standards when it comes to education. My dad started a fake school just to prove a point about how relaxed their standards were.
2026-10-26 23:54:03
42
tenthorns
Tenthorns :
I went to the same private, non accredited, fundamentalist religious school in Indiana from pre-k til I graduated high school. Going there put me so far behind in life. The curriculum hasn’t been updated in over 40 years. They still allow corporal punishment too. It’s a terrible place.
2026-10-26 23:53:36
38
drerisner95
Dre risner :
Should we really be surprised? Wv ranks in the bottom of the nation for education.
2026-10-26 23:37:04
55
sydsfitssss
sydsfitssss :
The first amendment auditor comment killed me
2026-10-26 23:56:39
17
itsbarrybitchhh
baywee :
This is insane. wtf is a micro school
2026-10-26 22:57:05
34
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