There are no grades at TKCU. YES! It’s actually really amazing once you get used to it. Each child is met where they are at, every single day. They are not judged on how old they are or what grade they were in last year.
We are programmed to believe a 5 year old goes to kindergarten for X amount of days and then each year they go up one grade level if everything is done correctly. This assures us that they are making the appropriate progress and that all of the time and energy we pour into our children is paying off. It feels good to check that box and ease our parental anxiety.
But… that isn’t really how the world works. All children have their own gifts and strengths and tough seasons. Thankfully, the wonderful hearts behind TKCU do not believe in holding each child to the same set of predetermined standards. If a 7 year old is doing 5th grade math, it is silly to hold them back and not let them move ahead at their own pace. At the same time, it would be detrimental to their emotional and social health to put them in a group with kids much older than them with whom they have nothing in common. This is just as true for a would be “8th grader” who is doing “5th grade” math but reading “10th grade” books.
This doesn’t mean that TKCU students are not challenged or held to high standards. Although curriculum is somewhat of a dirty word at TKCU, the school uses the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), which is much more rigorous than the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the curriculum standards that are used in all Texas public schools. Students are absolutely evaluated and held accountable for their work. They just are not being labeled or forced into a box that doesn’t make sense for them.
If you see a 2 or 3 on a homework page and you think your child is really supposed to be a 4 or a 5… just take a deep breath! Your child, your whole child, heart and mind, is seen, prayed over, and being prepared for the world. If you ever think your child isn’t being challenged or is struggling, speak up! Or if you just need a little reassurance that your child is “where they are supposed to be,” reach out. We have all been there. Sending your child to TKCU is a partnership with the teachers and staff. They want to know what you see and how you feel, and especially want what is best for your child’s education and heart.
–Veteran TKCU Parent