I love the mission of Acton Academy. After having kids of my own, I knew I wanted them to have the opportunity to experience learning in meaningful, practical ways that cultivated curiosity and self-efficacy. In addition to the academic progress charts that line each classroom, the health and effectiveness of the school community are monitored by survey. A limited liability company headquartered in St. George, Utah, an A++ location in Boise, Idaho (Heroes Academy), We have written about the average tuition cost at Acton, Acton is not a Christian school or a denominational school, My three kids attended an Acton Academy at different ages, We came to know two different Acton Academies in two different states, A family member went through the training to become an Acton owner and told us what things are like from the owner side, We have extensively studied Acton Academys teaching model and, of course, read the book. The school really doesnt like comparing progress to public school or other kids in general. For the past year and a half we have been homeschooling our children, which has been, and continues to be, a wonderful journey. Hes a good kid and certainly isnt threatening anyone. Acton Academy could serve as a cost effective model for other schools worldwide. He didnt think anything of it, but we were horrified when we found out he had taken a knife to school! Ill put it simply: We cried the last day our kids went to school at Acton. They wanted to disrupt the old models and create small learning communities where children werent competing for the best grades, but were getting personalized attention, engaging in project-based learning, developing their character, studying in the field, and explaining their discoveries in exhibitions. No adult intervention. They have a training and support program for new owners, but we worry that Acton has grown too quickly and some of the locations just arent keeping up. However, we also learned that not all Acton Academy locations achieve the same high standards. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. TFS taps into the heroic and leader in all their learners so they live boldly and passionately and in turn make the world better. At Acton Academy, we call our classrooms "studios" because students are learning through movement, exploration and hands-on activities. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . It is more of an "unschool" and thus scaling will be harder. We have a strong Christian ethos, which allows us to carry out our Christian vison and values throughout all we do. Acton Academy is student led. This means young people take ownership of their education and peer relationships. If there had been schools like The Forest School (TFS) when I was young I can't help but think what a better situation our country would be in today. They didnt want to make a Youtube video and ask me how. Joining the Acton Academy Tribe Acton Academy Joining the Acton Academy Tribe from Acton Academy on Vimeo. Instead, they grabbed a camera and started goofing around until they got it. Acton Academy East Bay joins a growing network of Acton Academy Schools worldwide. Acton Academy: Where Learning is an Adventure. Acton learners practice critical thinking and powerful writing and speaking through deep Socratic discussions about heroes, history, and self-governance. Between the non-traditional learning styles, the administration, and the staff, the school is a breeding place for independent, aware, and prepared citizens of the world. Below is a video of a site visit Jason and I filmed near The Slope School in Provo, Utah. It is merely to share my observations of what Acton is really like. through hands-on project-based quests that promote curiosity and problem solving. Acton Academies are opening up across the world. I want to end with a positive so that it is clear that we were very happy with Acton. As a family they love to cook together, create art, wander the woods, and swim in the river near their home in Auburn, California. Heroes will begin to . And, while all of these things are amazing, the absolute best part is our daughter LOVES going to school. However, at Acton, our kids fell behind even the public school over the course of two years. Plans often change if an Acton near you doesnt reply they are still in the process of preparing to launch. Acton Academy Cy-Fair is based in northwest Houston. Again, I want to repeat that our kids were happy at Acton and liked it there (which Ill discuss in the next point), but they did also express frustration at the confusing systems. My goal in this blog post is not to convince you to send your kids to an Acton, nor to avoid Acton. My kids look forward to going to school every day. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational . The first location we attended was wonderful. Heres a worksheetIll spend the next hour showing you precisely how to do it. Sign up with your email address to receive communication and updates from Acton at Serenbe, Acton Academy at Serenbe255 Prom Field RdChattahoochee Hills, GA 30268770.463.0081, TEDX Talk by Acton Co-Founder Jeff Sandefer, Let's Teach for Mastery -- Not Test Scores | Sal Khan, A Virtual Tour of Acton Academy 2012-2013. We will notify you when an Acton Academy launches near you. Literally, the adults step back and the students take on the roles of running the school. We believe the learning experience is much richer when the Guide offers insightful questions and facilitates hands-on learning. and athletic and other school-administered programs. Studios replace traditional classrooms and create a space for students of varying ages to learn together. Learn more by reading a blog post I wrote in 2017 about the origins of educational technology in the US Defense Departments Advanced Distributed Learning initiative. In essence, self-directed learning has long been discussed as an alternative to incentivized learning, and the two cannot co-exist. Acton Academy Tyler's 2021-2022 school year will run from August 29th, 2022 to June 9th, 2022. We went and talked to the owner and he said, Ahh its not a big deal. I am the parent and will decide what is needed for my child is what I always want to say. The network was named after Lord Acton, who wrote in 1887: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.. Learners are able to take charge of their education. Should you wish to pay a full year or full semester, a discount will be applied. Thus, let's learn from them. I will be impartial and mention pros AND cons, but please dont lose the messagego to Acton. Acton Academy Lincoln | A Montessori Inspired Private School in Lincoln, Nebraska - The School That Empowers Your Child For Life | Lincoln's Montessori Based Private School A PRE K-12 Private School in Lincoln, Nebraska Where Learners Become Leaders Now Offering Part-Time Preschool and Kindergarten! Will this approach adequately prepare our children for a successful, fulfilling life in the 21st century? Acton uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment that is designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting and teamwork. Each Acton affiliate is founded by entrepreneurial parents like Gregory for whom the networks philosophy of highly personalized, self-paced, learner-driven education resonates. (Alison McDowell) You can review the information provided to Jeff and Laura Sandefer by the guest blogger mom here. I have anxiety about my kids absences at school. I soon realized Actons framework is in strict contradiction to self-directed learning. He is also a fan of for-profit education and has influenced education in Texas to this end. He is especially excited about the opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship this year! This rewards those who learn well online. They may showcase a learner as a role model or turn over more responsibility to learners. A 21 st century learner-driven school in Kuala Lumpur. There is a website, called Journey Tracker, where the kids have their progress reported to parents. national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, Their "advisor", Jeff Sandefer, who founded the original Acton Academy, is a major Rick Perry donor.R. through deliberate practice and the latest educational technology, through written promises and commitments that form a tightly bound peer-led community. We had regular parents nights, but we expected to be able to influence what was happening at the school and have an input, but instead it was the school training US on what WE should do as parents. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. Great school that is allowing our middle school son to thrive. This school has been claimed by the school or a school representative. We didnt have much time, so we paid our deposit and jumped in. Acton Academy affiliates are benefiting from the surge in interest in microschools that began several years ago and has increased since the onset of the pandemic. Begin a Hero's Journey. That last phrase, falling behind is one that is kind of ignored at Acton. I write about innovative K-12 learning models. Threshold Studio. that helps learners explore what it means to be a hero and focuses attention for the year. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. The school, an Acton Academy affiliate, was founded by Matthew Clayton, who studied under the late Clayton disruptive innovation Christensen, worked as an analyst for Goldman Sachs, and was recruited to help build the Acton Academy brand. To Boost Kids Vocabulary, We Need To Build Their Knowledge, Entrepreneur On A Mission To Educate On Building Healthy Relationships, Four American Scholars Awarded Worlds Largest Prize For Outstanding Work In History, Catholic Schools And The Fabric Of American Education, We Need To Stop Seeing Skipping School As A Problem, And Recognize That For Some Its A Rational Choice. Acton Academy (2022-23 Profile) - Austin, TX - Private 1 week agoWeb Acton Academy 1404 E Riverside Dr Austin, TX 78741 Tel: (512) 689-9822 www.actonacademy.org REQUEST INFO SAVE SCHOOL Acton Academy serves 69 Location:1404 E Riverside Dr, Austin, 78741, TX Phone:(512) 689-9822 Courses160View detail Preview site My wife and I went to a friends house the other day. They didnt like students always picking at each other. Similarly, classes can sometimes vote another student out of the school if they are taking away from the experience (obviously, within limits). With an international scope, Acton manages a robust publishing and events outreach that argues for a moral foundation to the . Plans often change - if an Acton near you doesn't reply they are still in the process of preparing to launch. The Getting Smart Podcast Interview is here: Overall, this particular network is not a good fit for Kentucky's public schools. A suite of adaptive tools support individual progress on skill development. It is completely a liberal school, where Acton academies are not to have political affiliation. A guides role is to model behavior that leads to self-directed learning. If, like me, you are interested in your children learning because its inherently interesting to learn, developing discernment or intuition, and knowing the skills to not be distracted from their values by rewards, then Acton may not be a good fit for you. It asks you to upload screenshots of proof, and answer questions about topics. Monthly installments of $750 on a twelve-month payment schedule are accepted. Issue Areas Include Education Location 3355 State Road 13, Saint Johns, FL 32259, United States Join Idealist They ask the adult guide and the guide just sends them back to ask the other students. Our learner transition from public school. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. Solidarity economy is grounded in practice and the following principles: solidarity, mutualism, and cooperation equity in all dimensions: race/ethnicity/nationality, class, gender, LGBTQ the primacy of social welfare over profits and the unfettered rule of the market sustainability social and economic democracy Get inspired by the students, parents, and cofounders of Acton Academy of Washington, DC and hear what they love about Acton! The Heros Journey, relational covenants and real world consequences transform difficult decisions into virtuous habits. The general response I have received each time I reach out is that I should consider picking a different school, and that if I want to stay I should trust them. When we homeschooled, we found that in just 2-3 hours per day, we could keep our kids ahead of the public school. Our experience with self-directed learning offered students agency to make choices and give feedback without punishment or reward. Our kids did not struggle to find friends at Acton because there is so much social engagement between the kids all day. Acton Academy Seacoast uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment that is designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting, and teamwork. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. Discover his or her most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems in the world. We were intrigued by the innovative school that she and her husband, Jeff, started 10 years ago in Austin, Texas. We would never have left if we werent moving. Cherish the arts, the wonders of the physical world and the mysteries of life on earth. Students set their own goals, manage their own projects, and hold themselves and other students accountable. The exhibition on entrepreneurship was an amazing success! At The Wilder School, that work currently involves participating in an interactive lesson on colonial America, as well as developing a sales pitch for which type of classroom pet to adopt. Right from the start, we noticed that Acton tends to keep parents at arms length. Like other networks, there are requirements to be a member such as satisfaction surveys. Judy Kent Director, Media Relations 703-477-7476 - Email Jackie Jones Media Relations Consultant 316-644-9538 - Email Dan Faoro Director, Communications The global attraction has been the Acton belief that each person has a gift that can change the world in a profound way and a learning model focused on learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin I pulled them out of school thinking that "okay" just wasn't what I wanted for them. Like Acton, she plans to make the student the center of the classroom; teachers will play a support role as students pursue "quests," engage in socratic discussions, and complete lessons in core. Which, by definition, means this is not a self-directed environment. Founded in Austin in 2010 by Laura and Jeff Sandefer, Acton Academy now has more than 250 affiliate schools in 31 states and 25 countries. Socratic Discussions and self paced challenges equip children to be independent lifelong learners. Learning how to know others and give feedback or constructive criticism is an incredible skill. They were seeking out challenges to do together. and activities generally accorded or made available to students via online school presence. We are searching for a Guide to begin mid-August 2020, and be a part of our team through the 2020-2021 school year. Because Acton allows each location to set their own prices, the tuition cost varies drastically. When a student breaks a rule, a classmate can request a buck from misbehaving student. My junior year of college I decided to try to actually learn. 2023 Trekker Entrepreneur School, LLC. I love that each child can work at their own pace and that the traditional school performance pressure is gone as our kids control how fast or slow they go but the school structure creates enough positive reinforcement to make them want to do well and soar! That is a by-product of the governments education model. The results of the 360 reviews were one of the metrics used to determine a students freedom level. My wife and I looked at each other and gave a knowing grin. There is one location in Washington DC charging over $25,000+, and other locations that are nearly free. I am so glad my wife and I found a school that we can see our children attending until they go to college. The Forest School has allowed our four learners to grow rapidly, intentionally, and beautifully. In addition to the core skills being covered, students also have to prove mastery in things like gratitude, creativity, and empathy to show they are truly ready to face the world. Acton learners practice critical thinking and powerful writing and speaking through deep Socratic discussions about heroes, history, and self-governance. A 21st century school with locations in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. Please, The Forest School: An Acton Academy Reviews. 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