Exclusive: Hybrid schools open new legal front for choice

Roots Learning Academy, a hybrid homeschool program operated by Katy Duckstein near Pittsburgh, is currently facing state scrutiny. Pennsylvania officials have labeled the operation an uncertified childcare facility, leading to potential closure. This situation has opened a new legal front regarding school choice, as the program struggles with specific childcare licensing requirements imposed by the state. The conflict highlights the regulatory tensions between traditional state oversight and the emergence of hybrid educational models in Pennsylvania.