Welcome!

The ASDE Compendium was created by The Alliance for Self-Directed Education, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to increasing accessibility and awareness of Self-Directed Education as a way of living and learning, and connecting the communities and voices of the movement.

We envision a world where young people’s human rights are respected and upheld, which includes the freedom to direct their lives and education; and where Self-Directed Education (SDE) is widely embraced, accepted, and available to all families regardless of their status, race, or income.

The organizing team for the Alliance, works behind the scenes to manage this website, support Alliance members, coordinate advocacy projects, and help augment the voices and experiences of those in the Self-Directed Education movement everywhere.

ASDE has spent the last eight years building resources, community, connections, relationships, and amplifying the voices of this movement. In 2024, The Alliance for Self-Directed Education received a grant from VELA to create a resource for people interested in and already pursuing self-directed education (SDE). A small team at ASDE spent over a year's worth of time coordinating, compiling, editing, designing, laughing, crying, revising, revising again, and revising several more times until finally completing what you see here. May it fill you with hope and inspiration. 

We are proud to present to you, The ASDE Compendium!

Team Bios

Bria Bloom,

Content Editor, Content Creator, Communications, Coordinator, Strategic Planner

Bria Bloom is a unschooling mother of two (a teenager and a toddler), and a born and raised unschooler. Her experience in directing her own learning led her to become an advocate for Self-Directed Education (SDE), youth liberation, and partnership parenting. The unschooling and deschooling world was her gateway into a whole lot of questioning — realizing that the systems that try to define our lives, and “school” us, are not limited to just school. 

Bria loves to engage & play as an SDE facilitator and parent. In 2019, she founded the second-ever Flying Squad in Portland, OR, which led to a partnership in sharing the idea of Flying Squads with others — it has since expanded to over a dozen squads across multiple countries. She loves to write and share her unschooling experiences through videos and podcasts. She has worked with the Alliance for Self-Directed Education for the past 8 years, during which she has led and supported many initiatives, co-created and co-hosted online events and conferences, and had the daily joy of connecting with so many passionate and supportive SDE people from around the world.

Meghan Suniga-Davies,

Strategist, Marketing + Communications Coordinator and Content Creator

Meghan is a mixed race chicana currently living in Austin, Texas. 

A LIFE LONG LEARNER, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER + PARENT TO GROWN AND TEEN UNSCHOOLERS

Since 2019 she’s been building a worldwide network of parents, caregivers, facilitators who are living life without school with young people, through Self-Directed Education and partnership parenting. She's currently working with the ASDE to broaden the conversations in alternative education and SDE more specifically to include anti-oppression and youth rights. In the past, Meg has hosted a podcast on unschooling with listeners from almost every continent, published 5 issues of an unschooling zine, built a pay-wall free virtual community and peer support network, AND HOSTed A ROBUST CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

NOW YOU CAN FIND HER DOING ALL THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS WITH A TEAM AT ASDE, ROAM: Teen Travel Collective and ATX Flying Squad

Janice McDonald,

Graphic Designer, Content Editor, Coordinator, Strategic Planner

Janice McDonald is a mother of two young people who are figuring out life together in Portland, OR. She is happy to again be using the graphic design and journalism editing skills she acquired in college many years ago. She enjoys supporting organizations, like ASDE, behind the scenes with her organizational skills and mind for project management. Moving her body is important to her, whether she's practicing yoga, running, walking or dancing. She also enjoys being silly when the mood strikes. Lately, she has been fascinated with how the nervous system works. She enjoys listening compassionately to others and supporting them through life's challenges.

Laura Schroeder,

Content Editor, Content Creator, Communications, Coordinator

Laura Schroeder (she/they) is an unschooling mom to an 8 year old, an aggressively affectionate rescue dog, a grumpy rescue cat, and lives in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Learning about consent, bodily autonomy, and how to be a decent parent during the early years of parenthood brought Laura to the concept of unschooling and self-directed education. Laura currently volunteers with Bull Skit Comedy as their volunteer coordinator, sits on the board of directors for the local rugby club: the Red Deer Titans Rugby Football Club, and is the social calendar coordinator for her very extroverted young person. Laura plays rugby, is learning how to cross country ski, enjoys biking, kickboxing, music, being in or near water, an immersive book/podcast/tv show/movie, and really well seasoned food. She is passionate about youth rights, inclusivity by expanding circles, and the collective liberation of all beings.

Crystal Byrd Farmer,

Intersectional Editor for The ASDE Compendium

Crystal Byrd Farmer is a writer, speaker, and educator who works in the worlds of non-monogamy, self-directed education, and intentional communities. She is the co-founder of Gastonia Freedom School and author of The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in Your Organization. Crystal is passionate about encouraging people to change their perspectives on diversity, relationships, and the world.