Curriculum
SRFACS is a free and public educational French Immersion school and it is the only accredited public school of its kind in California. Our accreditation is through L’Agence pour l’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger/Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). This accreditation enables students to access any French educational system worldwide. SRFACS is certified to administer the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF). Attaining this language diploma allows students to apply for the French citizenship and access to French universities. The DELF is a universal measurement of language aptitude. SRFACS aspires to have all students pass the DELF with a B1 level.
Students at SRFACS excel through a harmonization between the French Ministry of Educational Standards and the California Common Core State Standards. Mastery of the French and English language will give students the cultural confidence needed to become global citizens. Our teachers bring their culture, language, and expertise along with their French teaching credential. Our students’ cultural confidence is infused by our many native French-speaking teachers and through various subject content. The arts, physical education, and nutrition are critical elements of French culture.
The Common Base which is the foundation of the French core curriculum consists of six skills: mastering the French language, basic skills in Mathematics, Science, mastering common Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Humanities and Culture, Social and Civic Skills, and autonomy and initiative of pupils. Each major skill comprising “The Base” is designed as a combination of fundamental knowledge for the times in which we live, abilities to implement this knowledge in various situations, as well as attitudes which are vital throughout life. These include openness to others, interest in seeking the truth, respect for self and others, and curiosity and creativity.
The content standards adopted by the California State Board of Education are Mathematics, History-Social Sciences, Science, World Languages, Visual Arts, and Physical Education
SRFACS will provide a basic framework for a challenging standards-based core curriculum that employs the French and English language as vehicles to deliver a curriculum which engages students at a high cognitive level. Teachers at SRFACS will employ three guiding documents in planning their integrated core curriculum – the Common Core Standards; the French Base Standards; and the California additions to the Core Standards. The core content areas of French and English-Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science will be standards-based, and lessons will transcend the standard educational experience and make lasting impressions as students are immersed in a multicultural environment.
The curriculum at the Santa Rosa French-American Charter School will be in accordance with the California Education Code:
• Adherence to Education Code sections 51210 and 51220.
• Use of the French and English language to carry out the academic standards set forth by the State of California.
• Alignment of standards-based curriculum, assessment, and instruction throughout the grades at the school in order to provide a comprehensive, coherent, sequential structure for teaching and learning.
• Inclusion of multiple assessments of student work, both formative and summative/outcome-based, as essential components within a French-speaking program.
• Inclusion of all learners in the classroom, whether that be Special Education, English Language Learner, French learner, or gifted and talented.
• Recognition of breadth and depth in the inclusion of American and French culture as an aspect of learning in a global world.
• Expectations that classroom teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, and members of the local Francophone community are included as part of the educational experience for all students. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Santa Rosa French-American Charter School resides in its rich and unique French setting that will provide awareness of cultural diversity, mastery of a second language spoken by 300 million people worldwide, and development of additional pathways for learning.