Top Sites>Acton Academy | Learner-Driven Schools for the 21st Century

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# Acton Academy

> Acton Academy is a global network of over 300 learner-driven microschools in 30+ countries, each locally owned and operated by parent entrepreneurs. Founded in 2009 in Austin, Texas by Jeff and Laura Sandefer. Mission: to inspire each person who enters our doors to find a calling that will change the world.

Acton Academy is named after Lord John Emerich Edward Dahlberg Acton (1834-1902), the Victorian scholar of freedom known for the phrase "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The network celebrates his defense of economic, political, and religious freedom.

Acton is not a franchise or a single school. It is an international network of independently owned campuses united by a shared learning model and set of promises. Each campus is started by a mission-driven parent entrepreneur who pays a one-time $20,000 affiliate fee plus 4% annual royalties. 300+ campuses operate across 30+ countries and 42 U.S. states, with a 9/10 family satisfaction rating.

## Terminology

Acton uses specific language that differs from traditional schools:

- Learners, not students
- Guides, not teachers. Guides do not lecture. They protect studio culture, ask Socratic questions, and design the learning environment.
- Studios, not classrooms
- Quests, not projects. Hands-on, multi-week challenges in areas like science, entrepreneurship, engineering, art, and coding.
- Running Partners: pairs of learners who meet regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable
- Badges: progress markers for both academic mastery (Core Skills) and character development (Servant Leader Badges)
- Exhibitions: public presentations at the end of each 4-6 week sprint where learners demonstrate what they have learned

## Learning Model

The Acton model is learner-driven, not teacher-driven. Learners set their own goals, manage their own time, track their own progress, and hold each other accountable through peer governance. There are no traditional lectures, grades, or standardized tests.

The learning philosophy rests on three pillars: Learning to Learn (self-paced mastery), Learning to Do (real-world application), and Learning to Be (character and calling). Acton believes clear thinking leads to good decisions, good decisions lead to right habits, right habits lead to character, and character leads to destiny.

Five elements define 21st century learning at Acton:

1. Educational technology for self-paced mastery of reading, writing, and math
2. Hands-on project-based quests that solve real-world problems
3. Socratic discussions about heroes, history, and self-governance
4. Professional tools for art, engineering, technology, and storytelling (no worksheets)
5. Written promises and covenants that build a tightly bound community

Technology is used intentionally: 1-1.5 hours per day on average. The youngest studios use no technology or up to 20 minutes.

## Studios

Learners are grouped by developmental stage in mixed-age studios, not by grade level:

- Spark (ages 4-7): Montessori-inspired work and imaginative play. Builds independence, focus, and kindness while laying foundations in reading, writing, and math.
- Elementary (ages 7-11): Close-knit studio focused on goal setting, core skills (math, reading, writing, Civilization), and hands-on project-based learning.
- Middle School (ages 11-14): Core skills via technology, Socratic discussions on heroes and history, quests in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, finance, and psychology. Apprenticeships begin.
- Launchpad (ages 14-18): Preparation for a Next Great Adventure — college, launching a business, or a career. Deep literature, real-world computational challenges, college-level quests, and leadership roles.

## Daily Schedule

- 8:00 Drop-off and free time
- 8:30 Daily Launch (Socratic Discussion)
- 8:45 Core Skills: goal setting, math, writers' workshop, reading, civilization discussion
- 11:30 Lunch and free time
- 12:30 Quest Launch (Socratic Discussion)
- 12:45 Quest: hands-on work, team-based challenges across disciplines
- 2:45 Studio Maintenance
- 3:00 Closing Group (Socratic Discussion)
- 3:15 Pick-up

The schedule is flexible and learners can rearrange work blocks based on personal goals and commitments.

## Five Promises to Families

Every child who enters an Acton Academy will:

1. Begin a Hero's Journey — embracing challenges, learning from failure, and making courageous choices
2. Learn to be a curious, independent, lifelong learner — taking charge of their own learning
3. Develop a deep respect for economic, political, and religious freedoms
4. Cherish the arts, wonders of the physical world, and the mysteries of life on Earth
5. Discover their most precious gifts and learn to use them to serve others

## History

- 2007: First Children's Business Fair held in Austin, TX
- 2009: Acton Academy founded in Austin by Jeff and Laura Sandefer with their two sons and a handful of neighborhood children
- 2012: First affiliates open in Venice Beach, CA and Guatemala City (first international campus)
- 2017: Laura Sandefer publishes Courage to Grow
- 2019: 10th anniversary with 100+ schools
- 2021: 200+ campuses across 31 U.S. states and 20 countries
- 2023: Jeff and Laura Sandefer awarded the Simon-DeVos Prize for creating change through education
- 2024: Jeff and Laura Sandefer pass leadership of the global network to Jake Thompson
- Today: 300+ schools in 30+ countries

## Key Pages

- [Homepage](https://actonacademy.org/): Overview of the network, three paths (start a school, become a guide, enroll a child), testimonials, and FAQs
- [Find a School](https://actonacademy.org/find/): Interactive map and searchable directory of all 300+ campuses worldwide
- [Our Model](https://actonacademy.org/model/): Detailed explanation of the learner-driven model, daily schedule, studio levels, and how mastery is measured
- [Our Promises](https://actonacademy.org/promises/): The five promises Acton makes to families and the commitments families make in return
- [Our Story](https://actonacademy.org/actons-story/): Timeline from 2007 founding through today, founders Jeff and Laura Sandefer
- [A Day in the Life](https://actonacademy.org/a-day-in-the-life/): What a typical day looks like inside an Acton studio
- [Learning Design](https://actonacademy.org/learning-design/): The five elements of 21st century learning and how mastery is measured
- [FAQs](https://actonacademy.org/faqs/): Common questions about the model, philosophy, and how Acton works
- [Start a School](https://start.actonacademy.org/): Information for parent entrepreneurs interested in launching an Acton Academy
- [Blog](https://actonacademy.org/blog/): Articles and updates from the Acton network
- [Children's Business Fair](https://childrensbusinessfair.org): Annual event where children build small businesses from the ground up

## Optional

- [Resource Library](https://actonacademy.org/resource/): Videos, books, and documents for prospective affiliate founders preparing for their audition
- [Flagship Campuses](https://actonacademy.org/flagship-campuses/): Austin TX (founded 2009), Guatemala City, Lahore Pakistan, and Bergen County NJ
- [Press and Media](https://actonacademy.org/acton-academy-press-and-media/): Media inquiry form for interviews, features, podcasts, and event coverage. Contact: info@actonacademy.org
- [Privacy Policy](https://actonacademy.org/privacy-policy/)

## Contact

- Website: https://actonacademy.org
- Email: info@actonacademy.org
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/actonacademy
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/actonacademy
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/actonacademy