Courage To Grow by Laura Sandefer

"Don't read this book unless you're ready to have your life disrupted and forever changed."

-Heidi Anne

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"Children are natural learners – full of curiosity and excitement about the world around them.

They are not afraid to fall down or make mistakes. They are not afraid to ask question after question

and explore deeply to discover new answers. Most even believe they have superpowers

that could change the world. This is the energy we work to fuel at Acton Academy."

Are you ready to turn

learning upside down?

Courage to Grow is the intimate origin story of Acton Academy, one of today’s most innovative schools with a model quickly spreading around the globe. If you have ever wondered if there are more powerful ways for young people to learn, step aboard for a behind the scenes tour of how Acton Academy unlocks the genius in every child, while embracing personal accountability and forging character.

"THE must-have book for any parent or anyone else who cares about education."

Laura Sandefer

Meet the mother, and Acton co-founder

Laura Sandefer is an author and the co-founder

of Acton Academy, a school whose learner-driven model is spreading across the globe with over 300 locations in Texas, Australia, New Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, Malaysia and more.

"My greatest lesson is that my children must struggle in order to find their best selves. I must not solve their problems and work to take their pain away if I want them to grow and realize their full potential.

As I went around making their lives easy, I found I was stripping them of their ultimate joy. I learned to be with them in a struggle, love them through it, but not take it away."

-Laura Sandefer

This is for you if…

  • Your child used to be curious—asking endless questions, building forts, dreaming big. But now they just want to know “Will this be on the test?” They count down minutes in class instead of losing themselves in learning.

  • You’ve wondered: Is this really what learning is supposed to look like? You’re starting to question the system: Why does learning feel so rigid, standardized, and uninspired? Why does the system ignore what makes my child one of a kind? Why is creativity traded for compliance?

  • You’re ready to explore a different way. You’ve heard whispers of learner-driven education, but want to understand how it actually works. You want your child to grow in wisdom, courage, and purpose—not just GPA.

TESTIMONIALS

What They Took Away

A Peek Inside...

The Story Behind Acton Academy

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314 CAMPUSES

31 COUNTRIES

42 US STATES

This book isn’t for everyone, but...

If you're ready to:

  • Discover what education can look like when it's built on trust, curiosity, and purpose

  • Explore what it looks like when we trust children

  • Learn from a real family's journey of building a revolutionary school from scratch

  • Stop settling for a system that stifles potential

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of our most asked questions...

1.What does it mean for children to be in charge of their own learning?

At Acton, we cultivate self-directed learners. A self-directed learner is guided by his or her interests and is able to set and achieve learning goals, research questions, solve problems, participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.

2.What is the Hero’s Journey?

We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose, in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.

3.How does Acton track student progress without grades/marks or standardized tests?

Acton learners measure themselves on effort, mastery, and leadership. Additionally, Acton learners use portfolios, real world exhibitions, peer reviews, goal monitoring, and other meaningful evidence to show progress on their journey. For years, learners took a once-a-year standardized test, progressing 2-3 grade levels per year on average.

4.Is Acton an accredited school?

Yes. We are accredited by the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools.

5.What makes Acton Academy different?

• Focus on discovering a calling

• Hero’s journey

• 21st century learning

• Multi-age classes

• Self-paced, mastery-based learning

• Project-based learning

• Real-world apprenticeships

• Blended learning

• Student driven

• Deep respect for the child

• Student self-governance

• No homework

• Guides rather than teachers

• Socratic discussions rather than lectures

• Portfolios rather than grades

• Micro-school format

6.What do you mean by "every child can change the world"?

We believe each of our students will find a passion — something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be by becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people's day just by doing his job with love and vigor; it may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child’s eyes and guides her to pursue a dream; it may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family on a Hero's Journey; it may be becoming an entrepreneur or business leader guided by compassion and integrity; or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people's lives.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students and Affiliates

Acton Academy admits learners and affiliates of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students via online school presence. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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