High school students who reach their academic potential seem to come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are strictly academic, some have more diverse interests. Some go to private schools, some go to their local public school. So what is it that unifies the students who ace their exams, and those who, err… don’t?

The article discusses ways in which ordinary adults can become volunteer parents for high risk students who don’t have real parents actively involved in their education.

Self-directed learning in the adult world usually refers to online, self-paced classes. How do you take this idea into the elementary school and create student academic success?