Message from the Principal

At Cesar Chavez Academy, our staff works diligently to meet the particular needs of middle school students. We give teachers time to plan together, and give them opportunities to observe each other in order to improve their skills. Last year we provided about one-third of the staff with high-quality literacy training with a nationally renowned expert. We will continue to provide such training in the coming year. Cesar Chavez Academy is also a place where we nurture student leadership. The 2005–2006 school year saw the beginning of the Renaissance Team, a group of students who are dedicated to improving every aspect of our school.

One of the most exciting changes during 2005–2006 was the completion of the school renovation project in partnership with the Second Mile organization. Hundreds of student, family, and community volunteers came together to give the school a facelift and contribute tremendously toward a positive learning climate.

As with most public schools, funding continues to be a persistent challenge. This is particularly true when it comes to providing students with high-quality educational field trips. Despite those challenges, we continue to look for outside partnerships and grants that will help us provide enriching experiences for our students.

Program Offerings

• Gifted and Talented Education: Educators identify academically gifted or talented students based on
  teacher recommendations or tests for inclusion in enrichment programs called Gifted and Talented Education (GATE).
  Our school has five students who qualify for this program.
  
  We provide GATE instruction within the regular classrooms. Our focus is the core curriculum, with specific
  attention to history, mathematics, science, and reading. We extend assignments to challenge and engage our
  GATE students.
  
• Special Education Program: Students with moderate to severe learning differences are sometimes entitled to
  individual education plans and extra attention. Our school has 30 students who qualify for these special
  education programs.
  
  We offer a continuum of services to children with disabilities so that they can learn alongside their nondisabled
  peers. We currently have no Special Day Class (classes for children with severe handicaps) and include all special
  education students in the regular classroom. Inclusion specialists work with the classroom teachers to modify
  lesson plans in accordance with the objectives of each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
  
• English Learner Program: Most students not yet fluent in English enroll in special classes that help them
  gain fluency. We strive to advance our English learners into regular classes as soon as possible.
  
  Our English Language Development (ELD) program helps English learners develop their skills and meet state
  standards. All of these students receive equal access to the core curriculum through specially designed lessons.
  Three bilingual aides support our Newcomer class and our fourth grade dual-immersion class, which uses two
  languages to teach fourth grade subjects to a classroom of English-only students and English learners together.
  All English learners receive 40 minutes of ELD instruction.