There is a new Acton Academy starting in Nashville TN this fall (2018) if those in Kentucky want to see a close one. One of my sons told me he finished ELA minimum requirements by guessing enough times to see all the possible answers and memorizing them-instead of actually learning. I write about innovative K-12 learning models. At Acton, the goal is to free our young heroes to discover excellent teachers all around them. His love for learning has returned as well as his confidence in school. She joins Acton Academy with her two daughters, Camille and Ambrose. I asked Acton how they are using the data from the tracker, how they are protecting the data harvested from my children on the tracker and the EdTech companies they promote. We aim to create a positive, growth mindset environment in order to develop curious, independent students who find great joy in creating, learning, and collaborating in a tight knit community while discovering their own personal gifts and talents. (Alison McDowell) You can review the information provided to Jeff and Laura Sandefer by the guest blogger mom here. Before Acton, the only time I had heard the term freedom level was to describe a social credit system where those with higher credits get greater access-a program that has been piloted on a wide scale under the guise of building trust with authoritarian governments. We decided to homeschool with the support of a self-directed learning community. Finally! WHY WE ARE STARTING AN ACTON ACADEMY. The first location we attended was wonderful. The four- to six-week projects are bounded by a compelling narrative and designed to deliver 21st century skills. After reading, learners lead a Between the Lines literary critique. After spending a year at home, we found Acton Academy, which we feel so lucky to have . We had pretty high standards for schooling our kids and TFS has met all of them. through hands-on project-based quests that promote curiosity and problem solving. Acton promotes authentic relationships through written promises and covenants that form a tightly bound community around four character traits: Acton learners hold themselves accountable with public exhibitions at the end of each quest and a portfolio of quality work. They may also participate in outside competitions. Its precisely this decentralization of power and emphasis on self-directed learning and goal-setting that led Heidi Ross to enroll her 11-year-old son in an Acton Academy in San Diego. It is the ideological child of Jeff Sandefer, a former business teacher at the University of Texas and founder of the Acton School of Business. Per Acton tradition, Eagles are putting their big-picture thinking, project management skills, and team building into practice by planning and organizing a Lip Dub (plus, it's lots of fun)! Since there isnt an external reward for quality, my sons focus mirrored the schools focus-which is completion. In public school, every single thing is spelled out for kids. Acton Academy uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting, and teamwork. 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 children were doing okay in a public school but often coming home sad, discouraged, and frustrated. I was told to trust them and that these systems were being used wisely. Some days they would rather lose a buck than do their schoolwork, and previously they did their work proudly. Demand for learner-driven education is growing. Reading goals are accomplished using Lexia, a literacy learning software, while writing skills are developed using Night Zookeeper, a playful, game-based platform that makes writing fun and engaging. 3. Anonymous. 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. In my opinion, the public school system sets a very low bar for academic progress. I am referencing communication that is documented in writing through email exchanges. Acton learners become powerful communicators by observing world-class examples, practicing in many genres and vehicles, through peer critique, and by writing for public audiences. To be fair, there are many reasons that a child can fall behind academically, so I couldnt say that the lack of academic progress was the fault of the school. Please, The Forest School: An Acton Academy Reviews. Acton Academy uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting, and teamwork. I can easily see how it would work well with many learners on a daily basis and would lead many of those students to find deep rooted passions which they could hopefully translate into careers. Home Explore our Main Campus Find a School Elementary School blog Middle and Launchpad Blog Parent Blog Launch an Acton Join the Learning Revolution Turn Learning Upside Down Adaptive game based programs for core skills Socratic discussions to strengthen critical thinking Instead, this letter is to share what I have noticed at our Acton school, and describe the responses I have received from the founders of Acton and owners of our school, as I have asked about their intention, methodology, and safeguards. The owners of our school and founders of Acton told me normalizing feedback was valuable; and, if Acton was not a good fit, there are other schools for my kids. The school uses a self directed learning approach. A 21st century school with locations in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. Schedule a Meeting. A teacher and literacy specialist for 20 years in both public and private schools, Ross values the freedom and flexibility of the Acton model. We cant build schools fast enough, he told me, adding that he is already outgrowing the buildings in his three locations which currently serve more than 300 learners, ages four to 18. I understand that some parents are very overbearing and this is probably why they keep parents at arms length, but I did feel a bit of separation from the kids. They dont have to sit down and shut up like at public school. Open An Acton Academy. Uncover why Acton Academy is the best company for you. Our mission is to inspire each child and parent who enters our doors to develop a calling that will change the world. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We connect them to each other and to examples of excellent teachers in their own lives and within the world at large. They were disappointed to discover that classroom and behavioral management consumed much of the school day, and a rigid curriculum stifled their childrens curiosity and creativity. Im a rule follower, and I hate it when the school secretary calls me to ask where my kid was. In my quest to understand the best models nationally for potential use here in Kentucky in our public schools, I've come across Acton Academy. Acton Academy could serve as a cost effective model for other schools worldwide. Our kids did not struggle to find friends at Acton because there is so much social engagement between the kids all day. 6 - Criticism. Acton isnt for everyone, though. A belief in one's own personal Hero's Journey provides Acton students with a purpose for being and a motivation to continue through setbacks and failures. When we went for our initial visit to see the school, we werent allowed to go during times when the school was open, so we always felt like we didnt understand what was really happening on a typical day. After adding 50 new schools this fall, the tiny Acton Academy team is gearing up to onboard 150 new schools each year thereafter. According to a recent analysis by the Cato Institutes Neal McCluskey, private schools have seen enrollment gains during the coronavirus response. world through an individual Hero's Journey. The next big red flag was the 360 reviews that kids were asked to fill out at the end of every session on the Acton tracker. Acton Academy Columbus is a secular, private, project-based learner-driven elementary school. in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, We have competitive teams in 8 sports across all year groups and a wealth of after school sports clubs. Our kids were cheerful about going to school. We believe children learn best by doing. Goal setting, points and badges motivate progress. Public schools hold kids hands too much, but at Acton, we felt like there wasnt enough adult mentoring that could have helped our kids. My junior year of college I decided to try to actually learn. Students Grades 2-12 Applying What you need to apply application More on how to apply Sources ENVIRONMENT From the School Enrollment Start time 08:30 AM End time 03:15 PM Schedule Year-round Dress code None While they do not assign grades or rank students, guides ask tough questions, Is that the best you can do? and invite a student to try again if the answer is no.. What they are doing with learner independence is something very unique and laudatory. As of 2022, there are 200+ approved affiliates on 6 continents worldwide. Owners gain access to detailed guidebooks and over 20,000 pages of learning challenges. Acton Academy Cy-Fair is based in northwest Houston. This principle extends to allowing students to determine discipline issues of their classmates. Determined to provide her children with a learning environment that nurtures their talents and cultivates their individuality, this fall Gregory launched The Wilder School, a microschool that is part of the booming Acton Academy network. Guides encourage Acton learners to ask three big questions: Acton learners earn points for displaying focused effort. Indeed, decentralization of authority and an elevation of the individual is at the root of Acton Academys broader mission. The school is now Ark Acton Academy (Image: Google Maps) Ealing Council 's chief member for education has said she could "write a book" about some of the things that happened at Acton High School before it became an academy and that some of what went on was "frankly pornographic". Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. It is merely to share my observations of what Acton is really like. Success is not about completing worksheets or memorizing facts to pass a test. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Id ask why, and they would say they had a low freedom level for the next week. Instead of a test about video editing, they have the kids make a video and show it to the parents at an exhibition. They even did fun things like renting out a local movie theater for showing off the videos. On the lowest level a student has to sit in an assigned seat, cannot snack, and must get a minimum amount of work done. Acton Academy Tyler's 2021-2022 school year will run from August 29th, 2022 to June 9th, 2022. nothing. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin You empower kids to an unparalleled degree. Acton Academy Claimed 2201 Alexander Avenue, Austin, TX 78722 Contact info Website Private schools are not rated 7 reviews Private school ? Whether it's launching a startup business, writing and directing a play . Acton Academy Santa Cruz offers a truly different approach to school- one that puts young people in the driver's seat of their own learning. Thank you. A guides role is to model behavior that leads to self-directed learning. We felt like Actons approach to academics was too extreme. Private School The Forest School: An Acton Academy A Overall Grade Private, Montessori PK, K-12 FAYETTEVILLE, GA 15 reviews Back to Profile Home The Forest School: An Acton Academy Reviews 15 reviews Excellent 13 Very Good 1 Average 0 Poor 0 Terrible 1 All Categories The hero accepts their journey, and crosses the threshold from the ordinary world into the special world. Acton says these reviews are meant to normalize feedback. Joining the Acton Academy Tribe Acton Academy Joining the Acton Academy Tribe from Acton Academy on Vimeo. Your commitments to Acton. I have one more addition before we get to the heart of the matter. With student led learning and self-pacing, my kids have been able to grow deeply in knowing themselves more, knowing how to work with a team of people different than themselves, receive constructive feedback and choose to become their best self. Hes learning a lot about responsibility, accountability, speaking up with kindness and respect, she told me. My conclusion? Now, if a student runs out of bucks they must go to an isolated room and work on core skills all day, for as many days as it takes to earn another hero buck by completing a badge. The small innovative school with a big promise is catching on. 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. The Forest School gives its students an experience that they wont get anywhere else. A non-refundable curriculum fee of $350 is due upon registration per child. I love that Acton doesnt track absences and many locations have a great school schedule that will allow you to go on family vacations, still focus on school, and not have a zillion half days just so the local public school gets credit for holding lunch that day. Were focused on teaching them about dangerous behavior, but not about making strict rules. I like that approach. On the day I visited The Wilder School, a bright, colorful and welcoming classroom in a standalone, home-like building behind the church from which Gregory rents the space, I got a glimpse of how a day at an Acton Academy operates. Here is how it looks: The Eagles are teachers to themselves and to each other. The Heros Journey, relational covenants and real world consequences transform difficult decisions into virtuous habits. Yes, it does teach the kid to eventually dig in and be self-motivated, but it also normalizes and enables the many months of laziness. and activities generally accorded or made available to students via online school presence. Acton is a unique school where students self-learn the things they need to be successful as adults. This video provides a peek at life at Acton, focusing on Acton . No adult intervention. It is more of an "unschool" and thus scaling will be harder. That last phrase, falling behind is one that is kind of ignored at Acton. We were so disappointed that it was NOTHING like the atmosphere or culture of the Acton wed experience in Boise (which was awesome). 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. Our excellent sports facilities include a state-of-the-art fitness suite, dance studio, netball and basketball courts as well as extensive outside playing fields for football, rugby, tennis and hockey. Acton Academy: Where Learning is an Adventure. We believe students learn by doing. The ed-tech company closed all the schools after a few years and kept the tech product in creation. I can best illustrate this with a short story. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Thereafter, you have to share 1% of the revenue with the network (not entirely sure what that means, but that is likely a big number). Acton is not a Christian school or a denominational school, but it does allow kids space to develop their spiritual foundation and moral footings as they are confronted with challenges. I am the parent and will decide what is needed for my child is what I always want to say. A sibling discount will also be applied to families that have multiple children enrolled. Instead of any learning taking place, students are simply focused on completion. We love the quests, Socratic discussions, open nature of communication, & ability for our child to learn at his own pace. Heres a worksheetIll spend the next hour showing you precisely how to do it. They ask the adult guide and the guide just sends them back to ask the other students. We have seen creative sides of our learner since moving to the The Forest that we did not see while in public school. The kid immediately came back to the parents crying because they tried to do their chores and the wheel was broken and they needed mom to fix it. Acton Academies are opening up across the world. For example, kids that work for months and still have no idea how to actually GET a badge. Acton Academy KL is part of the Acton Academy network a growing network of learner-driven . Begin a Hero's Journey. Cherish the arts, the wonders of the physical world and the mysteries of life on earth. As a family they love to cook together, create art, wander the woods, and swim in the river near their home in Auburn, California. The schools in those areas will immediately start populating below. To begin the enrollment process please begin by submitting an inquiry. The standards are extremely high and nothing short of excellence is acceptable. At just over $12,000 in annual tuition, The Wilder School, like most Acton Academy affiliates, is a fraction of the cost of other local independent private schools. We really like that Acton focuses on demonstrable progress. The goals for students are simple and bold: find a calling and change the world. Welcome to Acton CE Primary Academy. Believe it or not, with the Acton School program currently suspended, Peterson has now put his name to a second scam MBA program. Ill put it simply: We cried the last day our kids went to school at Acton. Schedule a Tour WHAT PARENTS LOVE ABOUT ACTON. 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