Special Education Programs
Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
The GATE program supports high-achieving and underachieving pupils who are identified as gifted and talented. By state definition, gifted students are pupils who possess a capacity for excellence far beyond that of their chronological peers. This capacity includes many and varied characteristics that require modifications of curriculum and instruction. These modifications form the basis of gifted and talented educational services.
To learn more, visit the district's Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) page.
English Learner Programs
Structured English Immersion (SEI)
Unless they have been approved for bilingual placement, English Learners with lower levels of English proficiency are assigned to the SEI program. SEI provides instruction, textbooks, and materials mostly or only in English and includes sequential ELD instruction, access to core curriculum through SDAIE strategies, and--in select cases--primary language support. All district schools provide the SEI program.
Mainstream English Cluster (MEC)
This enriched English program is designed for English Learners who are at higher levels of English language proficiency. English Learners at or above the intermediate level of English language proficiency are assigned to the MEC program, unless they have been approved for bilingual placement. MEC provides instruction, textbooks, and materials in English only. Students are clustered in grade-level classrooms that include native and fluent speakers of English. English Learner students may remain in the program until all criteria have been met for reclassification as "fluent English proficient." All district schools provide the MEC program. Parents may request this program at any time.
Alternative Bilingual
With an approved parental exception waiver, English Learners at any level of English proficiency level may participate in the Alternative Bilingual Program. In this program, some of the instruction, textbooks, and teaching materials are provided in the student's home language. If parents of 20 or more students in the same grade level of the same language group submit a waiver for participation in this program, the site is required to provide this program. If an individual school has approved one or more waivers, but fewer than 20, the school must allow any of the approved English Learners to transfer to another school that provides a bilingual program for that language and grade.
Volunteer-based Academic Programs
In addition to the standard district curriculum, students benefit from additional volunteer-based programs.
Everyone a Reader Volunteer Tutor Program
The Everyone A Reader volunteer program was created to fill an important need. Throughout San Diego County, some children experience difficulty learning to read. Often these children need special assistance and additional practice with reading. To meet this need the Everyone A Reader volunteer program was born.
The program trains college students from the University of San Diego, Mesa College, and members of the community with a passion for tutoring. These volunteers work one-on-one with first through third grade children. The children read books at their instructional level while trained tutors listen and assist the child in learning new reading strategies. For example, if the child is unsure what to do when coming across an unknown word, the tutor helps the child learn strategies to decode that word. The extra reading practice and strategies help the child become a better reader.
For more information, call (800) 711-READ or visit the Everyone a Reader Volunteer Tutor Program website.
Student Tutors
Tutors at Linda Vista come from a variety of resources. Our children recieve focused literacy tutoring from USD and SDSU students, SDUSD Oasis Program, Migrant Education from SDSU, Meric College Vocational School, and San Diego County's, Everyone is a Reader Program. We welcome volunteers to support our students. If you are interested call our school office at 858-496-8196.
Technology in the Classroom
Linda Vista has launched the use of Study Island which is a standards based reading tutorial. It provides additional literacy support for all students. Linda Vista has a functioning computer lab that students visits weekly. The fourth and fifth grade classrooms have computers in each classroom that are used for research and investigations.
Reading is Fundamental
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. Currently, 64 schools in the San Diego City Schools district participate.
This year at Linda Vista, RIF books were given to kinders and fifth graders. Linda Vista involves parents and community volunteers as much as posiible with the give-aways. This May, parent volunteer Liz Arias participated in the kinder give-away by reading to some kinders. Way to goLiz for supporting our young readers!
To learn more, visit the national Reading is Fundamental website.
.