Ideal School founder and director Eric C. Franzen was recently featured in Authority Magazine as part of their series on innovative approaches transforming education. The in-depth interview covers Franzen’s journey from volunteer work in Guatemala to founding the world’s only accredited two-way dual language immersion online school, and his vision for the future of global education.
Inspired by what you read? Ideal School offers live, bilingual K-12 programs for families worldwide. Contact Ideal School to learn more.
A Journey That Started in Guatemala
Franzen’s path to educational innovation began in an unexpected place. In the late 1990s, he spent two years as a volunteer in Guatemala, an experience he credits with changing his life. The people he met there taught him profound lessons about humility, humanity, and happiness that would shape his entire career.
Returning home to the suburbs of Seattle, Washington, Franzen carried a desire to give back to Guatemala someday. His mother was a public school teacher, and he realized that education could be his vehicle for making a lasting impact. What he did not know at the time was that it would take exactly 20 years for that vision to fully materialize.
After building a career spanning 15 years as a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and building principal from kindergarten through high school, Franzen and his wife founded Ideal School in Washington state in 2018. Today, the school serves hundreds of students across four continents and nearly 20 countries, connecting them through live, interactive, two-way dual language immersion classes.
Franzen’s background gives him a unique perspective on what traditional schools get wrong and what online education can do better. Having worked in nearly every role within the K-12 system, he understood firsthand the limitations that geography, funding, and one-size-fits-all curriculum models place on students. Ideal School was designed from the ground up to remove those barriers, creating an educational experience where a student in rural Argentina can learn alongside a classmate in suburban Utah, each bringing their native language as a strength rather than a deficit.
This student-centered philosophy is central to everything Ideal School does. Rather than asking students to adapt to a rigid school structure, the school adapts to the needs of its families. Whether a family needs the comprehensive Full Day Program for a complete K-12 education, individual subject instruction through the Homeschool Supplement program, or targeted language development through the Language Institute, Ideal School offers flexible pathways that respect the diversity of its student population.
What Makes Two-Way Dual Language Immersion Different?
Ideal School operates on a two-way dual language immersion model, which Franzen describes as fundamentally different from traditional bilingual education approaches. In a two-way model, native English speakers and native Spanish speakers learn together in the same virtual classroom, with equal instructional time in both languages. Students serve as authentic language models for one another, creating a learning environment that mirrors real-world bilingual communities.
Research cited by Franzen demonstrates that students in dual language immersion programs not only become bilingual but also enter university better prepared than their monolingual counterparts. Importantly, these programs eliminate the “achievement gap” often seen with other bilingual methodologies. The Center for Applied Linguistics provides extensive research supporting these outcomes.
This model represents the gold standard in bilingual education, supported by decades of research showing superior academic and cognitive outcomes. Unlike one-way immersion programs where primarily English speakers learn Spanish, or developmental bilingual programs focused on transitioning Spanish speakers to English, the two-way model creates genuine bilingual proficiency and biliteracy for all students. The benefits extend beyond language acquisition: students in these programs demonstrate stronger executive function skills, greater cognitive flexibility, and enhanced problem-solving abilities compared to their peers in monolingual settings.
The Growing Demand for Online Education
The interview addresses a critical reality driving families toward online learning: security and safety concerns around the world. From geopolitical instability to health concerns and bullying in traditional schools, families are increasingly seeking educational options that provide both academic excellence and physical safety.
Ideal School addresses this need by offering an accredited program that students can attend from anywhere with a stable internet connection. The flexibility means families can travel, relocate for work, or prioritize their children’s well-being without sacrificing educational quality. Students maintain continuity with their teachers and classmates in real time, regardless of where life takes them.
For families in the United States, the rise of education vouchers and school choice programs has made online bilingual education more accessible than ever. Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account, Utah’s Fits All Scholarship, New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Accounts, and North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program all allow families to direct public education funds toward approved private school providers like Ideal School. This policy landscape, combined with growing parent demand for bilingual options, positions Ideal School for continued expansion across these key states.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a global shift in how families think about education. What was once considered a niche alternative has become a mainstream option, with millions of families discovering that online learning can provide an education equal to or better than traditional classroom settings. This shift has been particularly meaningful for internationally mobile families, who no longer need to choose between geographic flexibility and educational quality.
For US expatriates living abroad, the challenge is especially acute. Local school systems may not align with American educational standards or college preparation pathways. An accredited US-based online school like Ideal School bridges that gap, allowing students to earn a recognized American diploma while living anywhere in the world.
Moving or traveling with your family? Your child does not have to change schools every time you relocate. Explore Ideal School’s Full Day Program.
Building a Global Community in Real Time
One of the most distinctive aspects of Ideal School is its truly international student body. With students and teachers connecting from nearly 20 countries across three continents, every classroom becomes a multicultural experience. A student in Argentina might collaborate on a science project with a classmate in Spain, while both receive instruction from a bilingual teacher with advanced Cambridge certification.
This global classroom model does more than teach academic subjects. It prepares students for an interconnected world where cross-cultural communication and collaboration are essential skills. Franzen emphasizes that the school is reshaping education by giving students, families, and professionals an internationally accredited online school that allows them to keep their friends and teachers in real time wherever they have a strong, stable internet connection.
To understand the real impact of this approach, Franzen conducts short interviews with parents of enrolled students, listening to their stories and documenting how Ideal School has transformed their families’ educational experiences. These firsthand accounts serve as powerful evidence of the model’s effectiveness.
Want to see how bilingual education works in practice? Ideal School’s small class sizes ensure every student gets individual attention from certified bilingual teachers. Learn more about the Full Day Program.
Accreditation and Academic Excellence
Ideal School holds accreditation from Cognia, one of the most respected accrediting bodies in the United States, serving over 36,000 institutions across more than 85 countries. This accreditation validates that the school’s curriculum, teacher qualifications, student support systems, and administrative processes meet the highest educational benchmarks.
For families considering online education, accreditation is the single most important factor to verify. Without valid accreditation, credits may not transfer and diplomas may not be recognized by universities or employers. Ideal School’s Cognia accreditation provides the assurance families need when investing in their children’s education.
Additionally, Ideal School is registered with the Florida Department of Education and Hillsborough District, and is an approved provider for state education voucher programs in Arizona, Utah, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. These external validations demonstrate government trust in the school’s educational quality.
Why Bilingualism Matters Now More Than Ever
The Authority Magazine feature arrives at a moment when bilingual education is gaining unprecedented attention from parents, educators, and policymakers. Research consistently shows that bilingual individuals demonstrate stronger executive function, delayed cognitive decline, and superior problem-solving abilities compared to monolingual peers. In the workforce, bilingual professionals earn 5 to 20 percent more than their monolingual counterparts and have access to a significantly broader range of career opportunities.
For parents, the decision to enroll a child in a bilingual program is an investment in long-term cognitive and economic advantages. Ideal School’s dual language immersion model delivers these benefits within a structured, accredited academic framework. Students learn mathematics in Spanish one period and social studies in English the next, developing the kind of academic bilingualism that standardized tests and university admissions offices recognize and value.
Supporting School Choice and Homeschooling Families
Franzen is a recognized voice in the school choice movement, and Ideal School serves as a valuable option for homeschooling families seeking professional instruction. Through the Homeschool Supplement program, families can enroll their children in individual subjects taught by certified bilingual teachers, adding structure and expertise to their home education experience.
The school also participates in state education voucher programs, making bilingual education accessible to families in Arizona, Utah, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia who might otherwise be unable to afford private school tuition. With annual tuition starting at $5,000 to $6,000 for the Full Day Program, Ideal School offers a fraction of the cost of traditional private schools while delivering superior bilingual outcomes.
The school’s commitment to affordability does not come at the expense of quality. Every teacher holds a bachelor’s degree, most hold advanced degrees, and many possess prestigious Cambridge teaching certifications including ICELT, CELT-S, and CELT-P. Class sizes are intentionally small, ensuring that each student receives personalized attention from instructors who are experts in both their subject matter and bilingual pedagogy.
The Vision for Education’s Future
Franzen’s appearance in Authority Magazine highlights a broader vision for the future of education. As technology continues to reshape how students learn, schools like Ideal School are proving that online education can deliver not just equivalent but superior outcomes compared to traditional classroom models, particularly in areas like bilingual proficiency and global competency.
The interview underscores several key trends shaping education: the rise of personalized, student-centered learning models; the growing recognition of bilingualism as an economic and cognitive asset; the demand for flexible, location-independent education; and the importance of maintaining human connection in digital learning environments.
Ideal School’s approach combines all of these elements, demonstrating that innovation in education does not mean replacing teachers with technology. Rather, it means using technology to connect students with exceptional educators and peers from around the world, creating learning experiences that were impossible just a generation ago.
The Authority Magazine feature captures this vision at a pivotal moment. Online education has moved beyond the pandemic-era emergency measures that many families experienced and into a new phase of intentional, design-driven learning. Schools like Ideal School are leading this transformation by showing what is possible when technology serves pedagogy rather than the other way around.
Ready to give your child a world-class bilingual education? Ideal School welcomes families from around the world. Get in touch with Ideal School today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I read the full Authority Magazine interview with Eric Franzen?
The complete interview is available on Authority Magazine’s website. You can read it directly at Education Revolution: Eric Franzen Of Ideal School On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming Education.
What is a two-way dual language immersion school?
A two-way dual language immersion program enrolls balanced numbers of native English speakers and native Spanish speakers who learn together in both languages. Students develop bilingualism, biliteracy, and cross-cultural competence through equal instructional time in each language. Research shows this model produces superior academic outcomes compared to other bilingual approaches.
Is Ideal School accredited?
Yes, Ideal School holds accreditation from Cognia, one of the most respected K-12 accrediting bodies globally, serving over 36,000 institutions across more than 85 countries. The school is also registered with the Florida Department of Education.
What grades does Ideal School serve?
Ideal School serves students in grades K-12, offering a Full Day Program covering five core subjects, as well as individual Homeschool Supplement classes, language programs through the Language Institute, and tutoring services.
Does Ideal School accept state education vouchers?
Yes, Ideal School is an approved provider for state voucher programs in Arizona, Utah, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. Families in these states may be able to use education savings accounts or scholarship funds toward tuition. For the most current information, visit the tuition page.
Written by
Eric C. Franzen
Eric C. Franzen is co-founder and owner of Ideal School, with 20+ years of experience as an educational leader and entrepreneur. He holds a BA in Education from the University of Washington and an MA in Educational Administration from Seattle Pacific University.
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