Renaissance Preparatory Academy IS an ABC School = Advancement By Competence Not By Year Cohort

Thus, as a child demonstrates competence in the topics required for a certain grade level, they can be promoted to the next grade level. Competence means earn at least an 85% in the cumulative test AND demonstrate use during our theme units.

No holding kids back to keep them on track for a grade based on an age cohort!

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New Term Starts Oct. 2... May Mean Grade Promotions For Some. Definitely means welcoming a new Kindergarten cohort (PreK who turn 5 by October 16 are welcome to enroll).

So as your child demonstrates knowledge of kindergarten, they are promoted at the next term to the next grade, 1st grade. An actively learning and hard-working child could conceivably be promoted 4 grades in a year (not likely but possible).

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Alternatively this means, if your child has gaps in their learning, we will help them fill those gaps until they can demonstrate competence. For example, let’s say your child received a C, a 75% in last year’s cumulative math final. And that this was broken down as shown on the graph below.

We work on a mastery framework but we allow progress based on competence which we define as at least 85% correct in a topic area. An average of 75% does not demonstrate sufficient competence in all required math areas in this example. This means that the results of the previous year show weaknesses or gaps as indicated below. These gaps will be addressed before the child is allowed to promote to the next grade.

Children don't have to be perfect to promote but they do have to meet our higher standards (remember we are a classic college prep and have high standards for mastery... that's that 85%).

If a child earns an average of 85% on the end of grade exam, then they are promoted to the next grade. You can see that this does not require 100% competence attainment of earning at least an 85 in all areas.  If a child cannot demonstrate some skill in their theme units by using the math that they’ve learned, then they will not be promoted until they can use as well as test in their areas. If they do show that they understand how to use their information, then the average of 85% is enough to allow promotion.

Note that variation in skill level exists, but that variation has a low point that is significantly higher than the lack of demonstration of competence across all. There are still weaknesses or gaps. These will be addressed, though, as

those topics are taught in the next grade level’s use. They won’t be ignored and it may take the student longer to progress any further since they will be shoring up their weaknesses before going on, but they will be held accountable for learning the earlier knowledge to the minimum level and demonstrate that they can use that information before any additional promotions.

How do we do this? Small class sizes, a curriculum geared towards master, theme units allowing children to use what they’ve been learning. We may be just the thing for your child’s academic success!

So, we are an ABC school that takes seriously the charge to help students develop to be the best that they can be in all areas… including foundation areas like reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic, and in their active use in a contextualized setting like our theme units. Once they do, they move on even if it is earned within one term due to their previous knowledge, skills and abilities and their own personal hard work during the term!

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Children enter a grade or our school at any time and are promoted to the next grade when they have demonstrated a strong understanding of Math and Language Arts via testing AND through their applied use in our theme units! We gladly promote each term!

Janice Black, Founder and Chair of the School Board

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