Fast Facts (2009 Data)
Overview: Rosa Parks JBBP is a unique public elementary school program integrating authentic instruction and experiences in Japanese language and culture with SFUSD's daily core curriculum.
Location: 1501 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 [see map]
Tel: 415.749.3519
email: info@jbbpsf.org
School Hours: 7:50 am to 1:50 pm
Curriculum: Core curriculum taught in English by credentialed teachers and one hour of formal Japanese instruction (reading, writing, conversation) taught by native Japanese-speaking faculty ("sensei") and integrated by teachers throughout the day.
Enrollment: 177 total (kindergarten - 3 classes; 1st grade - 2 classes; 2nd grade - 1 class; 2nd/3rd grade combo - 1 class; 3rd grade - 1 class; 4th grade - 1 class; 5th grade - 1 class)
Faculty: 10 credentialed teachers and 4 Sensei
Average class size: 15* (K-3) and 17* (4-5)
*Class sizes must be kept at an average of 3 students less than AY 2005-2006 class sizes, in compliance with the Quality in Education Investment Act, which provides an average of $500 (K-3) and $700 (4-5) per student per year for the next 4 years.
Faculty to student ratio: 1:16 (K-3) and 1:24 (4-5)
Average kindergarten openings: 54
Ethnic diversity: 35% African American; 3.9% Chinese; 4.9% Filipino; 10.4% Japanese; 1% Korean; 14.8% Latino; 1% Native American; 15.9% Other Non White; 9.4% Other White.
API test scores: http://tinyurl.com/yay9vz4
Star (CST) test scores: http://tinyurl.com/yay9vz4
Recess: 15 min morning recess and 20 min afternoon recess prior to luch
Lunch: $3.00 school lunch (free and reduced lunch available for qualifying families)
Bus: Laidlaw morning and afternoon bus routes. http://tinyurl.com/ybvusqb
Extended Care: Buchanan YMCA and Jump Prep on site afterschool programs. Bus routes to Nihonmachi Little Friends, ABC Preschool, Jewish Community Center, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Booker T. Washington.
Parent Groups: JBBP Parent Teacher Community Council (a 501c3 charitable foundation) and Rosa Parks PTA
History
In partnership with the Japanese American community, San Francisco’s first elected Board of Education established JBBP in 1973 to preserve and share the legacy of Japanese Americans and Japanese language and culture with future generations of San Franciscans. A product of the Civil Rights and Asian-American movements of the time, the program was founded through a grass-roots effort by a core group of 10 dedicated parents and community leaders who were interested in regaining for their children, the cultural identity that had been lost in the aftermath of the forced internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Language instruction by native-Japanese speaking teachers in the context of authentic cultural experiences, as well as access to the program by any interested elementary school student, were the defining priorities of JBBP's pedagogical model.
Since then, JBBP has been recognized for providing an outstanding educational experience, due to the combined efforts of its founders, teachers, and families and the sustained support of the community – perhaps the most disinguishing hallmark of the program and its sustained longevity.
In the Fall of 2006, having outgrown its stand-alone campus in the outer Sunset and in the midst of district-wide school consolidations, JBBP relocated to Rosa Parks Elementary School. Centrally located in the Western Addition, one block from Japantown and the historic Fillmore Jazz District, JBBP continues to grow and develop its one-of-a-kind program model and academic offerings, while building a shared future together with the General Education and Special Education programs. The proximity to JBBP’s founding community and the rich, multi-cultural assets of the surrounding area provides unprecedented opportunities to enhance and strengthen JBBP's cultural and academic resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RP JBBP an immersion program?
RP JBBP is NOT an immersion program. Our language model is a "content-related FLES model" (Foreign Language in Elementary School - or FLES - is a recognized pedagogical model for foreign language acquisition in the United States). Students experience one hour of formal Japanese language and culture on a daily basis delivered by native-speaking Japanese instructors -- or Sensei -- who work closely with credentialed classroom teachers to integrate Japanese instruction with core curriculum content. Classroom teachers also maximize exposure to Japanese language and culture throughout the day in keeping with Japanese standards established for each grade.
See also Academics for more detailed information.
How is Japanese taught?
See above.
Is there a first grade cut off point for enrollment into RP JBBP like there is for immersion programs in the District?
No, there is no enrollment threshold for JBBP. In fact, the founders of JBBP chose to develop a FLES based model specifically because it would not limit access to the program for students and families who were interested in Japanese language. Also, it diminished the potential for any delay in advanced achievement in English Language Arts during the elementary grades, which has been noted in the immersion model.
If I want to enroll my child in RP JBBP after first grade, does s/he need to know Japanese?
No, there is no prerequisite. See above.
What if we don't know any Japanese? Will my son/daughter be at a disadvantage?
No.
How can the teacher's accommodate the spectrum of fluency, given the potential for advanced and beginners in a single classroom setting?
In a word: very skillfully. There can be, and is, quite a range of language fluency in our classrooms. Our kinder classrooms, for example, combine native Japanese speakers with students who have some exposure to Japanese, as well as beginners who have never heard Japanese. Our experienced teachers and Sensei work together -- with the aid of in class family and student volunteers -- to differentiate instruction, often working with small groups or even individually, to keep all of our students challenged. At the same time, students at different levels of fluency benefit from the diversity: native speakers provide peer leadership and example towards authentic linguistics and conversation for our moderate to beginner level students.
How much language fluency will students achieve?
Students who are enrolled in RP JBBP from kindergarten through 5th grade can expect to meet third grade national content standards for Japanese language, established by the National Standards iin Foreign Language Education Project.
How is RP JBBP different from Clarendon JBBP?
Because Clarendon Elementary School served as the home of JBBP for roughly 20 years, both programs share common threads. However, they are pedagogically distinct. Japanese instruction and experiences delivered by native Japanese-speaking Sensei is central to RP JBBP, reflecting the original Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program model established 37 years ago. Clarendon JBBP is a "Teacher Led FLES Model" where Japanese instruction is delivered by classroom teachers under the management of a native Japanese-speaking Language Coordinator.
We encourage families to tour both programs to determine the best fit for their child(ren) and family.
How experienced are your teachers?
We are fortunate to have a diverse and talented teaching staff of 10 credentialed teachers and 4 Sensei that bring experience and innovation to our classrooms everyday. Please refer to a listing of staff information under Academics.
How diverse are your classes?
Rosa Parks is one of the most diverse schools in San Francisco, with no more than 40% concentration of any one ethnic group. Our families and students also represent a rich spectrum of diversity with respect to religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, learning modality, physical ability, family stucture, and economic status. JBBP's classrooms reflect this diversity with pride.
Are the RP JBBP classes totally separate from GE classes?
Yes and no. While JBBP, GE and SpEd classes are distinct for most of the day, we strive to cultivate and nurture a shared sense of pride as a single school community. Rosa Parks provides students from all programs with ample experiences to learn and play together. Morning Rajio Taiso (Japanese calisthenics), recess, and lunch provide less structured daily opportunities for interaction. Monthly assemblies, school-wide family get togethers, fundraisers, and special field trips also provide fun and diversified settings for comaraderie and friendship. In addition, integrated, rotating mixed classes - where GE and JBBP students are assigned to mixed cluster groups that rotate through week-long series of instructional themes (for example Science Integration) - also provide important opportunities for shared learning and collaboration in the classroom, where students and teachers from both programs get to know each other by name.
What is RP JBBP's test scores?
See Fast Facts above for active links to the latest API and Star (CST) scores for Rosa Parks. We do not tease out test scores for JBBP students. The historical data for test scores by subgroups will give you some indication for test score trends and patterns. Further study of test score patterns by school, District and State would also reveal that test scores are more a reflection of student demographics and less of an indication of how well your student will fare in any particular school.
I always read or hear about crime in the Western Addition. Is RP JBBP a safe school?
Rosa Parks is no less safe or vulnerable to crime than any other elementary school in San Francisco. This is, afterall, a dense, urban city. The school's location -- tucked in a quiet cul de sac and surrounded by historic victorians and two churches to the west, market rate condominiums to the north and south, and a senior convalescent facility and prestigious preschool to the east -- has never been a source of concern. Like any other school, families feel "at home" at Rosa Parks and use the school at all hours of the day, including SSC and parent group meetings in the evening and gardening, fundraising, and special events on the weekend. Most find the greatest threat to peace of mind around school is remembering where to park on a given day to avoid getting a ticket.
That said, "safety" at school is a fundamental security that every family should have. It is also a very objective and personal perception: one person's tranquility is often another's paranoia. So, again, we encourage you to visit the school and speak with our families and staff. Only you can decide if a school provides you with the comfort you seek.
Will RP JBBP continue to be an "alternative school" that draws students from throughout the city? Or will there be an enrollment priority given to "neighborhood" families as part of the District's new assignment process?
The District will be finalizing city-wide schools, boundary maps and feeder patterns related to the new assignment process on September 28, after public comment and Board of Education discussion. To date, the District has proposed that all language programs be designated as "city-wide" schools, providing families throughout the District with equal access to them. The Parent Teacher Community Council of JBBP will be advocating for designation as a city wide school.
How has the economy and state budget cuts affected Rosa Parks? Will JBBP's program be compromised?
Rosa Parks is extremely fortunate to remain relatively unaffected by the funding crises for the coming year. All teacher layoff notices have been recalled. And due to a combination of grants, and state and federal monies that have come through, the school is essentially fully staffed, including all four Sensei. Because Rosa Parks is the recipient of the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) our class sizes will also remain under 20 students. A generous grant program from The Japantown Foundation coupled with fundraising efforts will enable JBBP to maintain its educational and cultural offerings. We are also looking forward to benefitting from a recently announced $1.5 million FLAP grant to support Russian and Japanese heritage learners in the District.
While we remain cautiously optimistic about the funding outlook for the coming year, we are very much aware of the economic uncertainty and the likelihood of a slow economic recovery. Our fundraising efforts and allocation of dollars will align responsibly with this concern.