Kumon is the world’s largest after-school enrichment program. We have math and reading curriculums that start with preschool material for kids who enroll as young as age three, and advance all the way to the end of high school.

Kumon has two sides: the academic learning side and the side where we teach students how to self-learn, gain confidence and become independent thinkers. We combine advancing their math and reading skills with teaching them how to become even better students. How to put in effort. How to learn from failure. How to evaluate and be analytical when they’re solving a problem and find a mistake. How not to erase the whole answer but to go back and find exactly where the mistake occurred.

Over time, many of our students become very confident as they work on material years beyond their grade level. They often find themselves doing school homework much faster and with better results. And many are able to qualify for advanced classes in high school that help with their future college education.

In the Kumon Program, students learn through daily practice of about 30 minutes per subject per day. Two days a week they complete assignments at their Kumon Center, and the other days they do them at home, or wherever life takes them. When you first enroll your children, we’ll have them complete a placement test that identifies the most appropriate starting level for them. This has nothing to do with their age or grade in school; it’s about the skills they’ve mastered to date. Based on their starting level, they’ll work on daily assignments through what we call a self-learning approach. As they’re working on their assignments, we’re also assessing whether they’ve mastered each concept by looking at their speed and accuracy. If they’ve mastered it, great! They advance to the next level. If they haven’t, we have them go back to relearn those concepts.

Kids can be enrolled in Kumon from as young as age 3, all the way through high school.

With many states still limiting business operations, Kumon North America has implemented a phased reopening for centers. Following their state’s reopening guidelines, centers will be offering a mix of virtual and in-center classes that will limit the number of students in our centers and promote proper social distancing precautions. The virtual classes are being held via videoconferencing where students complete the assigned work from the comfort of their home while a certified Instructor or assistant is available for assistance. Consultants are also available by phone or email. Since many of our centers are independently owned and operated, please check with your local center about their virtual learning protocol and availability. For additional details regarding our centers’ safety and social distancing guidelines, please see the “What is Kumon doing to keep my kids safe while they are at the center?” section in the FAQs.

As centers begin to reopen for in-center classes, Kumon North America has implemented strict safety guidelines which include:

• Regularly cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces
• Scheduling students to prevent overcrowding
• Practicing social distancing
• Providing a mix of in-center and virtual classes at participating centers to limit class sizes
• Spacing out the desks and implementing staggered seating
• Washing hands frequently
• Checking temperatures upon entry
• Wearing masks

A wonderful difference between the Kumon curriculum and the school curriculum is that your children advance based on their abilities alone. In school, your kids are limited—regardless of their knowledge level, if they’re in third grade, they’ll be limited to studying third-grade material. In Kumon, however, they have the freedom to move ahead when they’re ready for each incremental lesson. That’s why so many Kumon children are studying material one, two, three or more years ahead of their grade level.

If you are concerned that your child will be bored in school after advancing with Kumon, our parents and students report the opposite. Students with a firm grasp of the fundamentals in math and reading become much more engaged and self-confident in school. Doing homework each night also becomes less daunting and time consuming—a plus for both students and parents. And with Kumon, you have more information on how their learning is advancing, so you can make sure any curriculum includes classes that are appropriately challenging.

1. Tutoring may not get to the root of the problem.

   When a child needs help with math or reading, tutoring often focuses on addressing an immediate need. The Kumon Method recognizes that a child’s struggle likely stems from having missed earlier, fundamental learning.

2. Kumon identifies where your child’s learning started to fall behind, while a tutor may not.

   To fix the root of your child’s struggles, the starting point needs to be correct. While a tutor may begin tutoring a fifth grader on fifth-grade material, Kumon may start them at a different level.

3. Tutoring is passive learning. Kumon teaches self-learning.

   A tutor often sits with a child and explains how to solve a problem. This makes the child a passive learner, listening to an explanation with no guarantee the concept has been fully grasped. Conversely, self-learning in Kumon keeps your children actively engaged. They learn by studying examples that equip them to do the work on their own.

If your child is a bit behind in school, struggling with homework or having some difficulties with math or reading, Kumon is an excellent choice. Kids often struggle in school because the teacher moves on without knowing if every student fully understands the lesson. Our method uses carefully designed worksheets. Each teaches a lesson that’s one small step more advanced than the previous one. As children complete each worksheet, our method ensures they have fully absorbed that concept before moving on. If your child is like many kids who come to us a little behind, he or she will likely be ahead of his or her peers after spending some time with us.

Kumon is based on the concept of self-learning. To understand self-learning, it’s important to first understand what we’re all familiar with, which is traditional learning. In the classroom environment, your children are often passive learners. They may be sitting in class, but are they always paying attention? Are they fully engaged or daydreaming in space? There’s no guarantee they’re fully grasping every lesson the teacher is teaching.

Conversely, self-learning in Kumon ensures your children are always actively engaged. They learn by studying examples, which empower them to do the work on their own. This differs from sitting in front of a teacher—or a tutor—listening to them explain how to solve the problem. Your kids learn by doing, not watching, and build the confidence to rely on themselves instead of what the teacher knows.

Every child is different. Children advance at their own pace through their program of worksheets. Since each worksheet teaches a lesson that’s one step more advanced than the previous one, children fully absorb each concept before moving on. That’s a big part of why Kumon works for kids of all abilities. And why so many of our kids end up studying above grade level.

All of our Instructors are required to have a four-year degree, and all have completed extensive Kumon curriculum training.

Kumon works alongside it and is supplemental to your child’s schoolwork. During your Parent Orientation, you’ll speak with the Instructor and will be able to see the Center and our materials, so you can understand how it works.

While we don’t specifically do test preparation for SAT, ACT or state standardized testing, we help our students develop the work skills they need to feel very prepared for major standardized exams. Our timed assignments also help children become comfortable working in those high-pressure test-taking conditions. Our program also helps strengthen time-management and problem-solving skills.

The most important step you can take is to help your child establish a routine by scheduling daily “Kumon time.” To encourage your child, you’ll want to celebrate and praise victories and progress large or small. Younger children may need some extra guidance from you in completing worksheets. It’s also very important to maintain regular communication with your Instructor about homework, motivation, curriculum or any other major activity in your child’s life. The Instructor is there for you as well as your child, and wants what you want: to help your child succeed.

Kumon’s monthly tuition ranges from $120 to $160 per subject. Kumon Centers are individually owned and operated therefore costs may vary. Please contact your local Kumon Center to confirm monthly tuition rates.

Your first step is to schedule a free Parent Orientation at the Kumon Center most convenient for you. Click here to find a Center near you. At that session your Kumon Instructor will provide further information on how the Kumon Program works and answer your questions. Your child will also complete our free assessment test, which helps your Kumon Instructor determine the perfect starting point for your child’s lessons. You should plan on spending between 45 and 60 minutes at the Parent Orientation.