Agile Learning Center of New Orleans

ALCNO is a learning center that practices Self-Directed Education. We provide children and teenagers resources to explore their interests and pursue their passions while living in an intentional community that names and disrupts racism, classism, ageism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression.

Humans are born curious. We WANT to learn. ALCNO opened full-time in Fall 2018 in order to provide children as young as 4 years old a place to play, grow, explore their interests, and keep that curiosity alive!
ALCNO doesn't follow a curriculum. Instead it allows children to choose what, how, when, and with whom to learn.
Children are part of the decision making process. At a weekly meeting, children and staff bring up problems and ideas and implement new practices that if successful, become agreements.
While ALCNO is open to all children, we have seen its model of choice and respect work wonders with children who struggle in conventional school settings. We have seen children who are "in trouble" every day in conventional school-- students who have a hard time staying seated or focused-- flourish and improve drastically.

When you donate to ALCNO during Give Nola day, your donation will help us to prepare for the 23-24 school year.

1) your donation will help us to acquire a new building. Our current space only allows us to serve 15 learners at a time. Moving to a new facility would allow us to respond to the growing demand from the community for 4 to 14 year olds, and allow us to expand enrollment to three year olds;
2) your donation will go towards our sliding scale tuition funds. Equity is one of ALCNO's core values and the fund provides scholarships to New Orleans families who would otherwise not have access to self-directed learning experiences.
3) your donation will allow us to raise our staff salary. It is critical that educational staff get paid a decent living wage. We believe that quality work conditions are part of a high quality learning environment ;

Testimonials

- "My kids love ALCNO. They have the freedom to learn through joyful play and curious exploration rather than coercion. They actually like going to school. They have found connection, mentorship, community, and friendship with kids from a wide range of ages and backgrounds". (K. S., ALCNO parent since 2022
- "Being new to learning the concept of "unschooling," we couldn't be happier with our experience. Conventional schooling wasn't working, so we gave this a try. My child is much happier at school and at home and I know her inner curiosity will prevail with the assistance of the facilitators". - A.T., ALCNO parent since 2019.
- "She loves school for the first time. I never have to fight her to go. The kids really love each other and it warms my soul that she's in an environment where she's safe, challenged and respected as a whole person!" S.G., ALCNO parent since 2019