Rethinking Education: How Dr. Erin Flynn is Leading the Consent-Based Learning Movement

What if students had full agency over their learning? What if they could choose how, when, and what they learn in a way that best supports their growth? Dr. Erin Flynn, founder of The Hedge School, is challenging traditional education models with a radical yet intuitive approach—consent-based education.

What is Consent-Based Learning?

Consent-based learning is exactly what it sounds like: students have the autonomy to choose how they engage with their education. At The Hedge School, a microschool in Texas, students are given control over their learning environment, from deciding when they need a break to choosing alternative ways to express their understanding of a subject.

“If a student wanted to go take a five-minute walk, that wasn’t a problem for me.” — Dr. Erin Flynn

By prioritizing student agency, Erin is proving that trust, respect, and autonomy can foster deep engagement and a love for learning.

A Classroom Unlike Any Other

Traditional school structures often impose rigid rules on students, limiting their ability to learn in ways that feel natural. Erin’s approach removes those barriers, allowing students to learn in a way that works for them.

• Students can sleep if needed. Erin understands that some students work late to support their families. If they complete their work and need rest, they can take it.
• Learning is adaptable. Students are encouraged to engage with subjects in ways that resonate with them. If a poetry prompt doesn’t inspire them, they can explore the theme through art, storytelling, or another medium.
• Emotional well-being is prioritized. If students feel overwhelmed, they can step outside and reset without punishment.

“I would let students go out into the field next door to our school and scream.” — Dr. Erin Flynn

By breaking these traditional constraints, Erin is fostering an environment where students feel safe, valued, and empowered to take ownership of their education.

The Rise of Microschools

The Hedge School is part of the growing microschool movement, which emphasizes small class sizes, personalized learning, and community-driven education. Microschools like Erin’s are gaining popularity as families seek alternatives to large, standardized school systems.

“The microschool movement matters because it’s about community.” — Dr. Erin Flynn

By creating small, student-centered schools, educators like Erin are redefining what learning looks like, ensuring students receive the attention, support, and flexibility they need to thrive.

Scaling the Vision: What’s Next for The Hedge School?

Erin has big plans for The Hedge School. With more funding, she hopes to establish satellite campuses to bring consent-based education to more students, particularly those who may not have immediate access to alternative schooling options.

“The plan is to find other educators who want to do what I’m doing and families who would be interested in sending their students there.” — Dr. Erin Flynn

Her approach isn’t just about changing one school—it’s about inspiring a shift in education that respects students' autonomy and encourages their natural curiosity.

Why This Matters

Education is at a crossroads. As more families and educators recognize the limitations of traditional schooling, innovative models like The Hedge School offer a glimpse into a different future—one where students are trusted partners in their education, not passive recipients.

“Choice is our only freedom. What we get to choose to do in this world is the only sense of freedom that we have in reality.” — Dr. Erin Flynn

By embracing consent-based education, we can create learning environments that honor students’ individual needs, respect their voices, and prepare them for a world that values adaptability, independence, and critical thinking.

🎧 Listen to Dr. Erin Flynn’s full story on the latest episode of Pitch Playground!

‍