The District’s Master Plan, adopted by the Board of Education on February 23, 2010, supported the implementation and establishment of “attractive school options to provide desirable choices and deepen student, family and community engagement in youths’ lives and education.” In January 2012 the Board approved the recommendation to implement magnet schools at Encinal Junior Jets and Maya Lin. The Board also approved two innovative programs at Bay Farm and Earhart. These programs continue to be supported and funded by the general fund.

In August 2014 the Board approved planning funds for two schools who submitted planning proposals for innovative programs, Franklin Elementary and Haight Elementary. Franklin Blended Learning Innovative Program integrates science and technology. Blended learning occurs when a student learns, at least in part, in a supervised location away from home, such as school, and in part through the online content delivery with some element of student control over time, place, path, and pace. The strength of this instructional approach is its combination of both face-to-face and online teaching methods into one integrated instructional approach. The staff believes that the integration of hands-on science experiences supported by technology will increase skills to use technology as an integral part of learning new ideas and solving problems.

Haight Elementary Global Learning integrates global education and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to develop global competence and engagement for deeper learning. The purpose of their innovative approach is to build environmental stewardship through the development of global competency – investigate the world beyond one’s immediate environment, address real life issues and problems, recognize multiple perspectives, value the contributions of all people, and communicate ideas effectively across all cultures and races. Additionally, the school believes that they must also effectively address the social and emotional growth of students. The staff believes that the development of strong social and emotional skills will allow students to understand and manage their emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Tonight the Board will receive information about these school proposals and request for three years of funding. The District will provide analyses of these proposals and needed next steps.