How to Start a Finnish Curriculum School in the USA

The USA has no single national process for opening a private school, which makes the practical steps more about facilities, staffing and accreditation than curriculum approval. Two existing Finnish inspired operators have already shown two different ways to do it.

Understand the regulatory picture before choosing a state

Because private school regulation is set state by state in the USA, the first real decision is where to open. Common requirements across most states include registering the school with the state department of education, passing criminal background checks for all staff, and meeting facility standards covering zoning, fire safety, accessibility and health department rules. A bachelor's degree is often the baseline teacher qualification expected, though formal teacher certification is frequently not required for private school staff.

Importantly, most states do not require pre-approval of a school's curriculum content, unlike more centralised systems elsewhere. This is a genuine advantage for a Finnish curriculum school, but exact requirements should always be confirmed with the specific state department of education before committing to a location, since practice does vary.

Choose a legal and funding structure

New schools generally choose between a nonprofit structure, most often a 501(c)(3), which allows tax exempt status and donation eligibility, or a for-profit corporation. This decision affects fundraising options, tax treatment and governance, and is usually made before facility and staffing planning begins.

A third path, chosen by at least one existing Finnish inspired operator, is the public charter school route. Charter schools are publicly funded and tuition free for families, but require approval from a state or local charter authoriser in addition to standard school registration, a meaningfully different and often more competitive process than opening privately.

Decide whether to pursue accreditation

Accreditation is generally optional for private schools in the USA, but it matters for credibility, transfer credit recognition and university admissions. Cognia is the most commonly used accreditor for non-public K-12 schools, and its process, which includes membership, a self assessment and an external review, typically takes one to three years. Many new schools open and operate for several years before seeking accreditation, once enrolment and facilities are established.

Learn from existing Finnish inspired schools in the USA

Two operators have already shown viable paths. HEI Schools has used a licensed private early education model to open centres in the USA. SISU Schools, from Finland's Fennomena Education Group, chose the public charter route instead, opening Copper Island Academy in Calumet, Michigan in 2021 and a second Finnish inspired public charter school in 2025. A new school does not need to replicate either model exactly, but both demonstrate that Finnish pedagogy can work within US regulatory frameworks, whether privately funded or publicly chartered. Affiliating with an established curriculum provider and teacher training programme reduces the risk of building the pedagogy from scratch.

Frequently asked questions

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