Nurturing and Educating Disciples of Christ for the Glory of God

What is University-Model Schooling?


Trinity Christian School is modeled after a successful University-Model School, Grace Preparatory Academy, in Arlington, TX. University-Model Schooling (UMS) is an educational alternative, which combines a university type of schedule and learning techniques with parental involvement.

University-model education takes the best aspects of traditional public and private schools, as well as home schools, and molds them into one model. UMS uses a university-style schedule adapted to the elementary, junior, and senior high levels. Professional teachers teaching in their areas of expertise conduct central classroom instruction. Elementary students attend classes on Tuesday and Thursday. Students spend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at home where parents continue their instruction or monitor student progress. Teachers provide parents with detailed instructions for days spent at home.

UMS caters to a wide variety of student needs by allowing a range of enrollment opportunities. Students may choose to take only one block of classes, or may opt to take a full academic load.

Though off-campus parental roles are clearly defined and required in the model, UMS should not be equated with home schooling or home schooling cooperatives. Nor should UMS be understood as traditional classroom education that has simply reduced classroom time (i.e. a Mon/Wed/Fri. classroom agenda). Its significance lies in its ability to effectively partner parents with highly qualified teachers to gain better academic results, especially among average students. This partnership is facilitated by using a university-type schedule and administrative system, while requiring a strong work ethic. The UMS model has proved to be one of the best preparations for students planning on attending college.

For more information about UMS, contact the National Association of University-Model Schools.

University-Model Schooling® "Is It For My Family?"

UMS is not for you if...
you believe the professional educator is in charge of your child's education.
you don't desire to be an active parent mentor to your child.
you equate sending kids to school with giving them an education.1
you don't want to spend more time with your children.
your family situation does not allow a parent or acting parent to be available to your child while studying at home.
you believe that once a child is attending school they need you less.

UMS is for your family if...
you believe you are your child's first and most important teacher.
you believe that, as the parent, you are in charge of your child's education.
you want to spend more time with your children.
you believe that parents are to travel the journey called education with their children and you consider it a joy and privilege to do so.
you have a need and desire to partner with gifted and professional teachers in a character-based academic environment, appealing to student's hearts as well as their minds.2

you desire to intentionally position yourself toward your child and his/her educational needs, putting their needs over your own.
you believe schools are poor substitutes for parents.3
The most important change in education in the last fifty years has not occurred in schools; it has occurred in the minds of parents who no longer take responsibility for their children's education.

Right from Wrong: What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices, Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler, p.41

University-Model schools are successfully accessing the most powerful known single influence for reforming education in America: meaningfully involved parents!
Character Driven College Preparation: Parents & Teachers in Partnership Through University-Model Schooling, Dr. John Turner, Jr., p.13

1Character Driven College Preparation: Parents & Teachers in Partnership Through University-Model Schooling, Dr. John Turner, Jr., p. 16

2Character Driven College Preparation: Parents & Teachers in Partnership Through University-Model Schooling, Dr. John Turner, Jr., p. 10

3Character Driven College Preparation: Parents & Teachers in Partnership Through University-Model Schooling, Dr. John Turner, Jr., p. 20