Academia Cesar Chavez Charter School

Academia Cesar Chavez (acc) is a unique Charter School with a focus on reading, literacy and academic achievement, offering comprehensive wrap-around services that enhance the School's academic program and promote family engagement and community collaboration. The School serves a significant english learner population and uses highly effective instructional strategies. An innovative aspect of acc's academic program is its dual language program in pre-k-1st grade, and english language development for all scholars in 2-8 grade, which includes daily spanish instruction.acc will close the achievement gap by focusing on strengthening reading, writing and literacy skills in both spanish and english. Acc continue to emphasize academic language and content knowledge in all academic classes. The School establishes high expectations for scholars' academic and social growth.acc incorporates the following national council of la raza core qualities in the daily operation and classroom instruction: high expectations and high supports; collaborative leadership; partnership with institutions of higher education; cultural competence; bilingualism and bi-literacy; sustained meaningful relationships; family engagement and community collaboration; and continuous performance-based assessment. The School community including teachers, scholars, parents, families and the community-at-large partner to prepare scholars to achieve their goal through learning and teaching. Acc's enrollment has also grown over the 20 years of operations. At the end of the 2020-2021 School year, acc total enrollment was 520 scholars (prek-8th grade) with a total staff of approximately 95.acc continues to offer a high quality pre-k program and receives funds from the Minnesota department of education to offer scholarships to parents. These parents are able to attend the pre-k program free of charge. This scholarship program helps alleviate the cost of operating a pre-k program. Acc expanded its program from 20 scholars to 40 scholars in 2016-2017 and continue to maintain 40 scholars enrolled in pre-k. acc was the first Charter School pre-kindergarten instructional program officially recognized by Minnesota department of education. Acc is continuing to receive the 21st century grant in 2021 and has been awarded an extension for another two years. Working in conjunction with the children's defense fund, acc has been able to offer both a freedom School summer program and after School program during the 2020-2021 School year.acc's 4th and 5th grade scholars are receiving additional, hands-on science instruction provided by science from scientists. This new program was created to address the stem workforce gap. Dr. erika ebbel angle, a graduate of the Massachusetts institute of technology with a doctorate in biochemistry from boston university School of medicine, founded science from scientists (sfs) in 2002 with the specific mission to teach and inspire the next generation to identify and solve real-world problems by improving stem literacy. Acc scholars enjoy participating in the science class with focus, passion, and drive.the middle School scholars have a new opportunity in their schedules - electives! Teachers were able to choose a class to teach within their licensure area, embedding writing and reading opportunities and take scholars on field trips which support their elective content. Scholars are able to choose their elective classes. Electives are mixed grades (6-8) and include: coding, debate, production media, reading, english, creative writing, future problem solvers, band and choir.five years ago, acc implemented a string program in kindergarten to teach violin. Each year the program grew and scholars in k, 1st and 2nd grade play the violin. We are proud to see our scholar play a music instrument. Scholars in the middle School participated in band.