FAQ

Short answer, YES! They will learn so much more, however it might not be at the same pace as grade level peers.  Their learning will be a deeper level, not just a memorization to pass a test.  When it comes to core skills (reading, writing, math) they work through personalized material, so they actually have the opportunity to move through quicker, if needed.

Acton Academy represents everything we thought a school should be. Not a one-size-fits-all school, but a learning community that embraces each learners' unique gifts, callings, traits, and personalities. A place that invites creativity, personal responsibility, and believes that every child is a Hero on a journey that can change the world.  I can say with confidence that it's unlike anything you've ever seen. 

We believe in children taking responsibility for their own behavior and holding those around them to a high standard. When something isn't working, we want children to work together to solve the problem, not look for an adult to solve it for them.  This creates a sense of independence and confidence that will serve them well in all areas of life.

Sara James has been running this type of classroom environment for the last 8 years of her teaching career. She has found students are more excited about learning, their confidence increases, and they take ownership of their environment along with their learning. It usually takes at least a month for kids to get in the groove of this type of classroom environment. 

Guides at Spark Christian Academy are gamemakers who propose exciting challenges, set  boundaries and invite students to start a life changing journey.

Guides' authority is limited by a student-Guide contract that restricts the role to five primary tasks:

1. Guides lift the eyes of students to the horizon.

Guides believe each student is a genius who deserves to find a calling that will change the world.

Guides inspire students by offering a Hero’s Journey through life, beginning with the end in mind; discovering precious gifts and using them in a joyful way to serve others as they build a strong community.

2. Guides are gamemakers who provide challenges, frameworks, processes, tools, milestones and world class examples.

Guide’s offer real world challenges that resonate with young heroes.  A Guide is a gamemaker who describes an exciting quest; sets incentives and rules and invites students to play.

3. Guides hold up a mirror of accountability.

Guides encourage students to create covenants to govern the studio and then allow students to learn from mistakes.  Guides insist on due process and if the studio isn’t living up to its promises, hold up a mirror so the tribe can decide to do as they promised or explicitly lower its standards.

4. Guides shepherd the energy of the learning community.

Guides feed and nurture learner driven communities through the rhythms, rituals and reflections that build a healthy community, proposing intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for individuals, squads and the studio to boost intentionality and energy.

5. Guides prepare Students to become gamemakers.

A Guide’s final and most important role is to catalogue, record, document and simplify processes so students can become gamemakers themselves.  Guides celebrate as students take on more and more of a Guide’s responsibility.

What do Guides NOT do at Acton Academy?

1.  Guides do not pose as Unicorn Teachers.

We each long for a personal tutor with the wisdom of Socrates; the curiosity of Nobel Physicist Richard Feynman; the developmental knowledge Jean Piaget; the pedagogy of Maria Montessori and the emotional intelligence of Oprah Winfrey.

Unfortunately, such Unicorn Teachers do not exist.

2. Guides do not act as parents.

Guides do not nag or try to force students to work.  Instead, guides trust parents to parent.  Guides never offer parenting advice.

3. Guides do not offer insights about individual students.

Many parents wish a trusted adult to ensure them their child is “above average.”  Spark Christian Academy believes it is impossible for one adult to make accurate insights into the thinking and motivation of dozens of young people.

4. Guides do not grade or lecture.

Guides do not grade.  Excellence at Spark Christian Academy depends on whether a student has given their individual best effort, or has improved over time.

Guides never lecture.  Instead, Guides ask questions.

5. Finally, Guides never answer any questions…EVER. 

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.

The Bible and biblical concepts will be discussed on a regular basis, and Christian values are an integral part of our character education. Please see our Statement of Faith Summary for more information. 

We do not use the word teacher, because this is a learner-driven community and we will not be lecturing to your child.  Instead, we will guide them to understanding.   

Megan Ripperger is the master guide in the Cornerstone Studio. Leeann Willis is the master guide in the Elementary Studio.

Spark Christian Academy will always be led and staffed by Christian believers who follow and guide according to our biblical statement of faith. Families of all beliefs are welcome at Spark Christian Academy, as long as they share the vision of learning laid out in the Acton model and are willing to be on their own hero's journey. 

YES! They can try out for sports at your home district public school according to ORC 3313.64 or 3313.65.  In addition, there are many sports offered through community programs outside of schools.

Learning at Spark Christian Academy is an invitation to a Hero's Journey.  A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself, and picks himself up again after falling down.  The Hero's Journey affirms life as an adventure of self-discovery.  Your children will ask themselsves these transformative questions: Am I really a match for this task?  Can I overcome the dangers? Do I have the courage and capacity to serve?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 life of meaning. Our mission is to prepare everyone for his or her own special journey. 

No. You will be required to pack your child's lunch. Our goal is to have a nutritionist join and prepare lunch for the children in the near future, and eventually be a mentor in health and nutrition. 

Spark would be a wonderful fit for families who:

• Want Christian beliefs instilled into their children.

• Believe the traditional school system no longer works to prepare children for the modern world

• Are entrepreneurs, creators, and creatives

• Are out-of-the box thinkers

• Want the benefits of child-directed learning without having to make a full-time commitment to homeschooling

• Want flexible schedules.

• Need flexible attendance for travel and family obligations. (We will operate on a 10-month calendar with 7, 3-6 week sessions and breaks in between.

• Have children who want additional time to pursue their passions beyond traditional after school hours

• Want to maximize their family time

• Are trailblazers and trendsetters

• Value their freedom and want their children to develop a love of learning

We believe that children learn best when working with those younger and older than themselves, rather than split up into groups based solely on age.  For Socratic discussions and core learning, the learners will be split into groups (ages 5-7 & ages 8-10).

Many Acton Academy owners say that it is not just the older students who help the younger students, but the younger students can really help the older students to think out side of the box and be more creative.

At Spark Christian Academy, we believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning tools now available, we are able to provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling and grammar in about 60 minutes each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning. The two are highly complementary. 

The Cornerstone studio does not use screens.

*Note: this is typically MUCH less than students in the public school system, who often use their computer the majority of the day. 

Students celebrate the mastery of tools, skills, and character by earning badges, assembling portfolios, and taking part in public exhibitions. Public exhibitions allow students to present work to experts, customers, or the public for a real-world test. Parents use our online platform JourneyTracker and school app to monitor progress in Core Skills like reading, writing, math, and character development. Electronic and hard copy Portfolios capture rough drafts, photos, videos, and other creative work. 

We will offer the IOWA standardized test once per year. Most of our students score 1-2 grade levels ahead of the national average. Parents may also be able to opt-in to MAP (Measuring Academic Performance) testing to track students' growth against their same-age peers.  

*New students will also be tested after they enroll into Spark Christian Academy.

Check out this article by Laura Sanderfer: https://www.actonacademyparents.com/journey-tracker-green-means-good-red-means-i-have-questions/ 

The IOWA Assessments are achievement tests that assess students' skills in reading, language, mathematics, social studies, and science. The tests assess both foundational skills and higher-order thinking skills. The IOWA Assessments provide national and local comparisons.

Running Partners are classmates who meet together regularly to set goals and hold each other accountable for meeting those goals. Running Partners encourage and inspire each other by asking good questions, listening and providing affirmation. 

Yes, we have transcripts that transfer mastery badges into grades. 

For the most recent tuition please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/tF2CNjdNHT1y9e458

There are some private foundations that offer scholarships to students who would like to attend private school. Amazon has many books that can help parents find financial aid for their students, too. Additionally, you’ll find more resources on our state specific pages.  

An independent learner is someone who can research questions, follow instructions, and solve problems.  They can admit that they don't know something, and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help.  They can participate in discussions independently, and strive for individual mastery.