AERO envisions an education revolution™ where all learners are free to direct their learning, and are free to choose, what, how, when, and where they learn, backed by equitable policy and funding. We believe this is crucial for democracy. Democracies around the world are being challenged largely because they do not represent the interests of the people. That’s we need the education revolution.

In his 35 years of experience in alternative education, Michael has seen thousands of children flourish when they leave traditional schooling and begin a program more aligned with the needs of children. He is an expert on cognitive, social, and emotional development of children and has written on how traditional schooling contributes to mental illness and adolescent dysfunction. He will explain the specific factors to look for in an alternative program to ensure that your child has a better life.

Find out why kids struggle to feel motivated and engaged at school and what you can do to help them rekindle their natural curiosity and find their internal drive. When we understand the science behind motivation, we can parent and educate without power struggles, bribes, or punishments.

Calling all education entrepreneurs! Now in it’s 15th year, My Tech High is ready to help you launch your own personalized hybrid micro-school in less than a day! During our session, we’ll show you how you can provide your students with access to the world’s best education options — all tailored to each learner’s individual needs. Come learn how you can serve students from Kindergarten through college and career — all at a very affordable price!

Alternative pedagogies are at least as old as the industrial-era, coercive, model of schools that comprise almost 100% of public education, and a vast majority of private education. However, any truly “alternative” pedagogy struggles for legitimacy because the conventional, majority education system is what sets the standards against which all approaches tend to be measured. However, there is an objective, legitimate measure of education that we can use instead – the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; the most widely ratified international treaty ever. I propose to make the case that Democratic, Self-Directed Education is the system of education that is most compatible with the Rights of the Child (including but not limited to the Right to Education).

Changing what we don’t like is hard, very hard. Protests and Speaking at School Board meetings may feel good, but rarely effect change. Elections provide one way to change one or more members of School Boards, but then the School Board Members have to do what’s right by parents and their school-aged children. Legislation? Legal Action. The most direct route to getting the attention of your School Board is to bring a lawsuit asking a court to decide whether what the School Board is doing violates the rights of parents. When parents have legal counsel and their case gets to an appellate court (and what dispute doesn’t), there is an opportunity to offer a “friend of the court” or amicus curiae brief to the appellate court. On January 4, 2024, ParentsUSA did so in the US Supreme Court where parents are seeking review of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals failure to consider their challenge to the “Parental Preclusion Policy” in which the Gender Identity issues of students are hidden from parents, out and out deception is practiced to keep parents in the dark. ParentsUSA argues that whether gender identity, academic failure, illicit drug use, sexual assault or activity at school, or bullying, parents must always be fully informed.

Entrepreneurial parents and teachers are building new, low-cost schools and innovative learning models all across the U.S. that are challenging the schooling status quo.

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In this dynamic session, parents embark on a transformative journey to understand and embrace the principles of self-directed learning. This interactive workshop is designed to enlighten, engage, and empower parents with the tools and knowledge necessary to support their children’s educational paths beyond the traditional classroom.

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Dr. Michael Q. McShane will present findings from a survey of dozens of educational entrepreneurs working today to highlight their experiences starting new schools, building new tools for schools and teachers to use, and working with teachers directly.

School does not have to be the way it is. Many pioneers of possibilities have shown that young people thrive when they have more control over their learning, but to fully appreciate this young people need to be provided with opportunities to have an immersive experience in what it means to be more responsible for self and one’s education. In this session, people will learn of a pilot program that can be implemented in any traditional school to provide students with this immersive experience during which they can develop the 21st century skills employers are saying that today’s graduates are lacking.

BeSomeone’s mission is global generational transformation through a viral youth movement of volunteer teens and college students providing free peer-to-peer, 1-on-1 personal life coaching to help teens flourish and fully develop their unique talents regardless of where they go to school or what college they get into.

With The Three Languages of School Choice, author John Kristof offers a first step in strengthening the school choice coalition. The talk is divided into four parts. First, Kristof reviews some history of the school choice movement and gives a demonstration that the policy is traditionally nonpartisan. Second, he dives into the narrative policy framework (NPF) approach to policy studies, a compelling, non-reductionist explanation for why groups gravitate to the policy issues they do. Third, Kristof pairs NPF with the three-axes model of political communication, developed by economist Arnold Kling, which helps explain why groups sharing a policy position can still politically differ. Fourth, Kristof uses the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race as a case study to illustrate how the Three Languages can explain why various people within the school choice movement react to the same K-12 education event in different ways.

We will use the story archetype of the hero’s journey paired with the drama triangle / empowerment dynamic framework to explore power dynamics in educational environments and how to effectively share power with young people.

What do most young people and families need to leave school and embark on a self-directed learning approach? Our answer is that most people need an in-person community center that offers a range of classes, tutorials, advisories, and social opportunities. We also believe in consent-based, non-coercive learning, trusting and respecting teens to declare and pursue their interests. In this conversation we will share some details of how we operate and compare notes with others that share common values.

A Bright Future for Education in America? America’s top-down education system is not providing the kind of individualized education that best serves the needs of children and families. Surveys show that the American people are rethinking the purpose of education and that a new paradigm for education should be one that values the dignity of children and families, provides maximum educational freedom, and better reflects the values of the American founding. This future is coming fast as more children than ever before are learning in new ways through homeschooling and other innovative learning environments such as micro schools, learning pods and more. Although there is opposition to this change, the good news is that we are well on our way to a future of education that is more kid-centric and family friendly. How can you help accelerate this transformation?

We’ve talked with thousands of families who are looking for a better education for their kids and want to do school differently, and here’s what we’ve learned.

Join us for an enriching session that transcends traditional education boundaries, focusing on essential life skills and universal values. From effective communication and financial literacy to career exploration and time management, we’ll delve into practical strategies that empower teens for the challenges of the real world. Whether you’re a parent or an educator, gain insights into fostering resilience, independence, and a foundation for success in teenagers as they prepare for a future full of possibilities.

E-learning as it currently exists does not work. Why is that, and how can we make it fulfill it’s long-dreamt promise of enabling cheap and high quality education for all?

How to launch your adult life and career without college or student debt. The exact process thousands of young adults have used to skip college, gain financial independence, and design meaningful lives and careers.

What do most young people and families need to leave school and embark on a self-directed learning approach? Our answer is that most people need an in-person community center that offers a range of classes, tutorials, advisories, and social opportunities. We also believe in consent-based, non-coercive learning, trusting and respecting teens to declare and pursue their interests. In this conversation we will share some details of how we operate and compare notes with others that share common values.