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English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) 

When a school has 21 or more English Learners, it must form an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).  The primary purpose of ELAC is to advise the school principal and school staff regarding the instructional programs and support services for English Learners. ELAC is also responsible for advising the School Site Council (SSC) and reviewing the Site Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).

The school is responsible for training and providing appropriate support to all ELAC members. By doing so, ELAC members will be well-informed and thus be able to communicate meaningful input and advice to the school about its efforts to educate English Learners.  For more information on the district's English Language Learners program, visit the Office of Language Acquisition.

Program of Inquiry (POI)

Learning at Jefferson (the POI) is organized around six transdisciplinary themes. These themes are globally significant and cover concepts that are interconnected, can be addressed in all disciplines (subjects), and can be applied to real life.

• Who We Are
• Where We Are in Place and Time
• How We Express Ourselves
• How the World Works
• How We Organize Ourselves
• Sharing the Planet

Jefferson teachers carefully align all district, state and federal standards to these themes. Standards are taught with a STEAM emphasis as a tool for helping the students understand the greater concepts and ideas of the themes. Through this approach, teachers are able to increase the transferability of the ideas students are learning. Teachers emphasize that learning does not end at the classroom door. Rather, in the classroom, foundations are laid to apply understandings to experiences in the greater world. The PYP program of inquiry facilitates this application.

Jefferson's Program of Inquiry

Budget Transaction Reports

For the full list of Budget Transaction Reports, please visit:
https://www.sandiegounified.org/BudgetTransactionReports

About Jefferson IB STEAM Magnet

Watch the video!

We give our students the world!

The mission of Jefferson Elementary School is to develop internationally-minded students who, through a rigorous program of inquiry, become knowledgeable and caring citizens of the world. Located in the heart of the North Park community, Jefferson is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme World School and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) magnet school.

Only schools that follow the strict guidelines of the IB goals and values can be certified as part of that program, a prestigious honor designed to make graduates of its programs ready to take their place in the global society.

As a STEAM magnet school, Jefferson is committed to providing rich, integrated math, literacy and science and lessons throughout the school day. All students have access to technology which is incorporated in the work they do during their units. Unlike other elementary schools in our neighborhood, Jefferson has a Design Studio where students work with their teachers to explore concepts in STEAM. The work we do is supported by two full time resource teachers who provide ongoing professional development for the classroom teacher in STEAM subjects and organize school and community events.

In keeping with IB parameters, Jefferson teachers and students work diligently on units of inquiry. IB attitudes and the Learner Profile are incorporated into daily work. All students learn English and Spanish as a start to making them multi-lingual citizens.

Jefferson's staff teach to the state standards and common core standards. We strive to improve student achievement in literacy and math through implementation of enhanced teaching practices and improved curriculum. In addition, we avoid combination classes whenever possible.

At Jefferson, we provide rigorous staff development for our teachers to improve teaching practices and work to improve student behavior by providing a positive and challenging learning environment. In addition, we continue to strengthen parent involvement through Family Fridays, PTA and Friends of Jefferson and community involvement by partnering with several businesses in the North Park area.