Deaf Education Program
- Three self-contained classrooms of pre-K through fifth grade
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, with three Deaf teachers
- Staff consists of six Deaf and three hearing staff, all fluent in American Sign Language (ASL)
- Academic program includes Optimal Learning Environment, Project 2061, Mathland and Deaf Studies
- Weekly gatherings of all three classes focusing Deaf culture and ASL
- Weekly ASL classes for the parents as well as occasional parent education workshops
- Weekly ASL classes for the staff at César Chávez to encourage integration across languages
- ASL is the primary language for classroom instruction
- Written English is used as the primary form of English expression
Our ultimate goal is to foster bilingualism (ASL/written English) and biculturalism (hearing/Deaf world, as well as various ethnic cultures).
Deaf Education Program (a more detailed description)
After seven years of lobbying the school district (1986-1993), three self-contained classes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) students, ranging from pre-K through fifth grade were consolidated under one roof at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. In Fall of 1993, two additional Deaf teachers were hired which translates into three Deaf teachers running self-contained classes for D/HH students at one public elementary school, a situation seldom heard of in other school districts. Since this consolidation of the three classes, the Deaf Education program has become much more successful, especially with the recent curriculum development and implementation. Additionally the D/HH students are continuously being immersed into the Deaf culture which is often no available to them outside the school.
Our D/HH classes are viewed and supported by the principal and general school community as another language group within the multilingual, multicultural environment that is nurtured at the school. We view this unique set-up as a wonderful opportunity for the D/HH students to feel included as another valued linguistic and cultural group in the broader school community, to have the same kind of continuity through their elementary school years as their hearing peers by attending one school from pre-K through fifth grade, and to develop a sense of identity and cultural belonging through having a group of D/HH peers and Deaf adult role models to relate with in their formative years. Our parents are encouraged to take weekly American Sign Language classes that are offered. We also offer parent education classes in which we share the academic program, Deaf culture, and different projects happening in each of the three classes.
Just as there are Spanish Bilingual, Chinese Bilingual, African Centered/MultiCultural programs, there is the American Sign Language (ASL) Bilingual program. All three Deaf teachers use ASL as the primary language of classroom instruction. Written English is used as the primary from of English expression. Our ultimate goal is to foster bilingualism (ASL/English) and biculturalism (hearing/Deaf worlds, as well as various ethnic cultures) in our students to help them feel equally comfortable and proficient in both languages and cultures. We do not feel Deafness as a medical or auditory condition, nor as a pathology or deficit. We view Deaf people as members of a linguistic minority with access to a rich language, culture, history, and community, who have the potential to become full bilingual, bicultural, productive, and creative members of society. Here at Cesar Chavez, our Deaf students and staff are given the opportunity to reach their potential, and beyond.
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Revised January 28, 1997