The short version
In Pennsylvania, a microschool usually operates as a private school or a program serving homeschooling families. PA: Licensed Private Academic Schools (State Board licensed, teacher cert), or Nonpublic Non-Licensed schools that must REGISTER with PDE. Pennsylvania has a tax-credit program (EITC + OSTC (tax-credit scholarships)), so eligible families can bring funded tuition. See the Pennsylvania funding guide →
Pennsylvania funding at a glance
Program: EITC + OSTC (tax-credit scholarships) (tax-credit) · Award: OSTC 2025-26 max $8,500 (non-SPED) / $15,000 (SPED); EITC per-student cap unverified · Paid via: PA DCED (business credits via eGrants); Scholarship Organizations (SOs/OSOs) award to families
Get the free Pennsylvania starter checklist
Free: the Pennsylvania microschool starter checklist
Where to begin, what your state requires, and how funding works. No fluff.
Questions founders ask
Do I have to use a specific curriculum?
No. MicroschoolLaunchKit is the compliance and operations layer — use whatever curriculum or model you want. We handle the paperwork around it, not the teaching.
What exactly is ESA / voucher approval?
Many states let families use public scholarship funds for private-school tuition. Getting approved as a provider/vendor is how that money reaches your school. We walk you through it, state by state.
Do you take a cut of my tuition?
Never. It is a flat subscription. Your tuition is 100% yours — unlike franchise networks that take a fee for every student.
Is this legal advice?
No. We give plain-language guidance and sourced requirements, not legal advice. For legal-sensitive decisions we point you to an education attorney.
Official sources (verify current requirements): dced.pa.gov · dced.pa.gov