Beacon's child-driven curriculum has many facets. In addition to focusing on what each child is developmentally ready to learn, we nurture each child's sense of self-esteem.

We teach each child to feel empowered to achieve the highest personal level of learning and to appropriately influence his or her classmates.

Challenging Curriculum
Beacon's core curriculum exceeds all State of California standards. Teachers use techniques of mastery learning to help students acquire reading and math skills.

In addition to the sciences and social sciences, and the visual and performance arts, students receive computer training beginning at age 8 and explore Spanish language beginning at age 5, in preparation for formal instruction at age 10.

Health and physical education instruction is provided at all levels. In addition, conflict resolution and teamwork skills are taught and practiced throughout the Beacon community.

Progress Assessments
Students are evaluated using a variety of objective and observational tools and are measured according to their mastery of a skill (i.e., with ease, with competence, needs help) and not by letter grades until the sixth-grade. In addition, standardized tests of reading and math (CTBS) are given annually to children who are at least 9-years old. Parent/teacher conferences are held three times each year, during which written progress reports are discussed in depth.

Small Learning Groups
The maximum number of students in a class is 18. Each classroom has one principal teacher, who is assisted by various flex teachers. During a school day, a student may spend individual time with the teacher, work cooperatively in a group of three or four students on a specific skill or project, and participate in a lesson with the entire class.

Arts Integrated Curriculum
Students are instructed in the visual arts, dance and vocal and instrumental music each week by arts specialists who are practicing artists in the community. The arts programs celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity and are coordinated with core classroom instruction.

Enhancing Self Esteem
Beacon students are taught to feel empowered to achieve the highest personal level of learning and to influence appropriately his or her learning environment through EPIC (Every Person Influences Children). EPIC is a self-esteem program for students, parents and teachers. Primarily authored by Beacon's founder Thelma Farley, EPIC is used in schools nation-wide. Throughout the curriculum emphasis is placed on teaching and using conflict resolution and personal and group negotiation skills. Principles of personal responsibility and group accountability are reinforced.

Homework Policy
Beacon recognizes that families--however constituted--are partners in each child's education. It is important that children are able to participate in family activities and that parents and guardians determine how to spend time with their children instead of having to do school work.

Homework is only rarely assigned to students in this age group. This policy is one of the advantages of a longer school year; instruction may be paced to ensure the acquisition and maintenance of necessary skills without restricting after-school time.

A Beacon Elementary Week
Outlined below is an example of a typical elementary weekly schedule. Classroom instruction begins at 9:00 a.m. and concludes at 3:00 p.m. Extended care is offered before school from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and afterschool from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.