Schoolio Opens First-of-Its-Kind Learning Pod in Toronto

TORONTO, ON, CANADA, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Schoolio Opens Its First In-Person Learning Pod for Homeschooling Families in Toronto
Part-time, teacher-led program for children aged 4 to 12 blends small-group learning and play with Schoolio's accredited curriculum; first cohort starts

TORONTO, Oct, 2026 – Schoolio, the Toronto-based homeschool curriculum company, will open the Schoolio Learning Pod, its first in-person program, on Monday, October 5. The Pod is located at the UMA Centre for Arts and Music, 181 Carlaw Avenue, Suite L102, in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood. 9 of its 12 spots filled within a month of enrollment opening.

"New homeschooling parents tell me again and again that they never planned to homeschool," said Lindsey Casselman, co-founder and Head of Learning at Schoolio, a certified special education teacher and homeschooling parent. "They choose homeschooling because they felt like there was no choice when their child's school couldn't meet their needs."

Casselman's experience reflects findings from Ontario's Auditor General, whose May 2026 audit of special education surveyed classroom teachers at three Ontario school boards. Just 21 per cent of those teachers said they were able to meet most of the needs of special education students in their class, and almost 60 per cent said they had received no or minimal training on key special education topics, including identifying student needs, developing and implementing IEPs, behaviour management, autism and learning disabilities.

The Pod gives homeschooled children three teacher-led half-days a week of small-group learning, collaborative projects and play, drawing on Schoolio's curriculum as each child needs it. Because the program is half-day, families keep the rest of the week for their own homeschool rhythm. They keep the freedom of homeschooling without carrying it all alone. Classes run Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons in a single mixed-age group of up to 12 children aged 4 to 12, and a second group is planned as demand is high. Teachers are certified by the Ontario College of Teachers and trained in special education, and the classroom is neurodivergent-affirming. The program covers math, language arts, science, social studies and social-emotional learning, plus art, music, drama, hands-on STEM and practical life skills.

"For years Schoolio has supported families online, and the thing they ask for most is a place where their kids can learn alongside other kids," said Sathish Bala, co-founder and CEO of Schoolio. "The Pod gives them that without asking them to give up what they chose homeschooling for."
Tuition is $499 per month, with no long-term contract and rolling admission. Three spots remain in the first group. Families can request enrollment at schooliofoundation.com, and no payment is needed to apply.

About Schoolio
Schoolio is a Toronto-based K–8 curriculum company founded in 2019 by parents and educators Sathish Bala and Lindsey Casselman. Its blended online and hands-on program serves more than 18,000 families across Canada, the United States, and internationally. It is aligned to provincial curricula in Canada and accredited by ACS WASC. Learn more at schoolio.com.

About the Schoolio Foundation
The Schoolio Foundation supports homeschooling families around the world with resources, curriculum and community for learners wherever they are..

Media contact
Sathish Bala, CEO
contact@schoolio.com

Sathish Bala
Schoolio Learning
+1 416-302-9321