Teachers Leaving Jobs at Alarming Rate Nationwide
Teacher turnover rates remain high nationally, with 15.1 percent of U.S. teachers changing schools or leaving the profession between 2020 and 2022, according to the Learning Policy Institute. This represents a 27 percent increase from the early 1990s, driven primarily by a more than 50 percent increase in the rate of teachers leaving the profession.
The education ecosystem is currently fragmented, with AI advancing at an exponential pace, teachers facing burnout, and states moving to restrict devices.
Teacher Turnover Rates
For those leaving the field, it’s a great time to focus on building an education company that is hands-on, practical, and fun, and creates an environment for human connection. The education market is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with opportunities for growth and innovation.
One area of growth is in homeschooling, which has surged to historic highs in the United States, with roughly 6 percent of all K-12 students being homeschooled. This represents a significant opportunity for teachers to create businesses that support homeschooling families.
Experiential Business Ideas
Some experiential business ideas for teachers to explore include creating a homeschool parent support network, organizing structured co-ops where families share teaching duties and enrichment activities, and running traveling educational shows that visit schools and community centers.
Other ideas include building a learning or tutoring center, creating subscription boxes that offer educational materials and resources, and launching an
Related: Co‑Founder Relationships Falter as Bonds Go Untended
The global homeschooling market is valued at roughly $2-$3.2 billion, while the private tutoring market was valued at $151.3 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $266 billion by 2032.
Launching an Education Company
Launching an education company requires understanding how students learn, what educators need to meet their goals, and what parents value. Stephanie Hanson, founder of StoryComb Press, shared three lessons she learned while building her own hands-on education company.
First, it’s essential to make your value clear immediately, especially when creating high-quality, hands-on materials. Second, continually talk to teachers and use their feedback to create materials that meet their needs and pain points. Third, constantly test your products with students to ensure they are engaging and effective.
By following these lessons and creating experiences that put human connection, curiosity, and real learning at the center, educators can build successful education companies that make a positive impact on students and families.
As the education system continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more teachers leaving the profession and pursuing alternative paths, such as building their own education companies. This trend could lead to a more diverse and innovative education setting, with a focus on hands-on, practical learning and human connection.
