Agile Learning Centers restore the joy of learning with a surprisingly effective educational approach: intentional culture supporting self-directed learning reinforced by agile management tools. You can learn more about Agile Learning Centers at agilelearningcenters.org.

Self-directed education (SDE) is a learner-centered approach that empowers individuals to take charge of their own learning journey. Instead of following a predefined curriculum or structure, learners have the freedom to explore their interests, passions, and curiosities at their own pace and in their own way. This approach acknowledges that every individual has unique learning styles, strengths, and goals. Through self-directed education, learners develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-motivation, while cultivating a deep sense of autonomy and ownership over their learning process. Whether through independent research, hands-on projects, or mentorship, self-directed education encourages lifelong learning and fosters a deep love for discovery and growth.

Learn more about SDE at self-directed.com

Facilitators witness.

Facilitators model.

Facilitators reflect.

Facilitators organize.

Facilitators hold the space.

Facilitators support learners in clarifying their intentions, getting connected to the resources they need, reflecting on their decisions, engaging with the community, and sharing their learning. They work to keep the space safe, legal, and respectful. They collaborate with learners to develop a powerfully positive culture. Facilitators model clear communication, collaboration, and authenticity.

• Drop-off begins at 9:00am. As families arrive, there are usually one or two offerings already set up for learners to explore. These might be art projects, science experiments, or group games. Learners are also welcome to dive into ongoing projects or create something new of their own.

• Morning Meeting starts at 9:30am. This is a cornerstone of our day and the one time when the entire group is invited to come together. We check in, go over the day’s offerings, and facilitators might ask a “question of the day.” Learners can also share what they’re excited to do. Participation is always accessible—some learners may move around, fidget, or simply observe, and that’s fully supported.

• From 10:00am to 12:30pm, it’s a time of self-direction. Learners choose what they want to engage in—whether that’s an offering led by a facilitator, free play, collaboration with peers, or working on an independent project. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are available and open for use.

• Food and drink are available at any time, and there is no mandatory lunch period. Learners eat when they're hungry, which supports body autonomy and self-awareness.

• At 12:30pm, we reset the space together. Those who are able help clean and prepare for the next day.

• At 12:45pm, we gather again for a casual reflection. Learners are invited to share how their day went, what they enjoyed, and what they might want to do differently. This helps build self-awareness and community connection as we wrap up the day.

• Pickup is at 1:00pm.

An offering is any activity, game, project, or topic that someone shares with the group. It can come from a facilitator, a learner, or even a visiting volunteer.

Offerings might include:

• A board game a learner brought from home

• A fun science experiment from a parent volunteer

• A book a facilitator wants to read aloud

• An art or craft project

• A discussion about a cool topic

Participation is always by choice. Offerings are open invitations—never required. Learners can join if they’re interested or choose to do something else. The goal is to create a space full of engaging possibilities while respecting each learner’s autonomy.

Yes and no. Our learners are free to choose, or not choose, offerings, activities, projects, and games as they see fit. We do have community agreements around how we treat our space, when to let a facilitator know you’re leaving a space, respecting someone’s “no,” and other things that inevitably arise when sharing space. Unlike a lot of other traditional programs for young people, however, we prioritize youth rights and our learners are active creators in these ever-evolving community agreements.

For younger learners, this happens organically from the moment-to-moment choices that they make about how to spend their day — who to play with, where to explore, what to play or create.

As learners' abilities to plan and think ahead develop, they prioritize activities that move them towards their goals, like most of us do when we want something. Facilitators will support learner’s in making their own schedules that reflect their interests and personal projects. The daily Morning Meeting is also a major tool in this community schedule making and sharing of project ideas, progress, or needs of support.

We have two groups of learners. Junior Explorers are aged 5-11, and Teen Innovators are 12-18. This is not a hard age line, but more of a suggestion based on general interests and abilities. Within these two groups, the ages are mixed. When ages are mixed, older learners cultivate patience and compassion while assisting younger peers. Meanwhile, younger learners observe and model behaviors from their older counterparts. This setup provides invaluable opportunities for everyone to both teach and learn from individuals with different skill levels, learning styles, and attention spans. By also giving our teens a bit more space, this setup allows all learners to learn from one another while also feeling free to pursue their own interests.

Wildly Inclusive ALC is not a traditional school. We are an alternative education program that operates as an Agile Learning Center (ALC). The ALC’s model is a framework for learning communities rooted in trust, self-direction, and collaboration. Current families who enroll must register as homeschoolers with the state, as we do not follow a standardized curriculum or administer state-mandated tests. We provide a safe, affirming, and inclusive environment where learners of all ages, abilities, and neurotypes can explore their individual interests at their own pace. Our ALC operates Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, with options for 1 to 5 days per week.

If that’s the direction a learner chooses, yes. Colleges have been accepting students from homeschooling families and non-traditional schools for as long as colleges have existed.

When a self-directed learner decides they want to go to college, they know why they want to go. Many students unquestioningly spend thousands of dollars and several years of their lives going through college because that’s what they think they’re “supposed” to do. Intentionally entering a learning environment to accomplish a specific purpose is more likely to bring about positive outcomes.

We don’t yet have longitudinal data on ALCs,but we do have it on self-directed education. Most of the kids who want to get into college do. Having alternative forms of record keeping and evaluation has not been an impediment for kids who want to go to college. In fact, there’sa proven advantage for people whose college applications can’t be tidily ranked by GPA and academic track: a human has to actually look at their portfolio. ALC students document their learning on sharable platforms, such as blogs and kanbans. As a result, they typically find it easy to construct a rich portfolio, and some already have created portfolios for their personal websites.

Being part of our ALC means joining a supportive community where families help to enrich their children's education. Families contribute by volunteering on a predictable schedule depending on the level of enrollment and the number of children. This ensures shared responsibilities and fosters a sense of community. Families who opt out of volunteering will have a slightly higher tuition. Our ALC operates Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, with options for 1 to 5 days per week.

Wildly Inclusive Co-op is a secular program and does not provide religious education. We believe that it is each family's individual decision to teach or not teach about personal faith or religion.

No, we do not offer refunds or discounts for missed days, vacations, or holidays.