Magnet Schools Assistance Program

A Magnet program is a specialized educational program that responds to students’ interests by offering unique programs and opportunities for in-depth experiences and study, such as:

• The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program and Diploma Program.
• Integrated technology in Arts and Sciences

Magnet program goals include maintaining high standards for all students, meeting the interests of students, enhancing parent involvement, preparing students for further education, providing field-based and hands-on learning experiences and offering mentorship, internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

Our schools provide innovative instructional practices using high quality classroom instruction, celebrate diversity and foster student achievement

The Magnet Schools Assistance Program in San Jose Unified School District funds six school sites for the 2007-2010 school years.

• Bachrodt Elementary School
• Horace Mann Elementary School
• Peter Burnett Middle School
• Herbert Hoover Middle School
• Gunderson High School
• San Jose High Academy

This three-year Federal grant provides funding in the following areas:

• computers and mobile computer labs.
• digital photography equipment.
• resource staff.
• training for staff in innovative teaching strategies and methodology.
• training for implementing the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program at Horace Mann Elementary School.
• training for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program and Diploma Programs at Burnett Middle School and San Jose High Academy.

Within San José Unified School District, we have experience with IB in our middle and high schools. Burnett Middle School is a certified World School for the Middle Years Program (MYP) and San Jose High is a certified World School for the Diploma Program (DP). The addition of the elementary school PYP “Primary Years Program” creates the IB continuum within SJUSD and insures that our efforts to develop inquiring, internationally aware students is reinforced and developed throughout their educational career.
Horace Mann Elementary School has been identified as a Candidate School in the International Baccalaureate Organization. The Candidate Phase incorporates the organization of the process and resources to deliver the Primary Years Program. It involves training, curriculum development, and collaborative planning for both the horizontal and vertical articulation of the program.

The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child and strives to help children develop an international perspective.

MSAP Goals and Objectives:

The Federal funds are used to plan, develop and implement the magnet programs at the six schools, thereby providing the funds necessary to meet the purposes of the Magnet Schools Assistance Act.

Those purposes were to:

• Reduce minority group isolation in secondary schools with substantial proportions of minority students;
• Assist the District in developing and implementing systemic reforms and provide all students the opportunity to meet challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards;
• Develop, design and implement innovative educational methods and practices; and
• Design and implement courses of instruction within magnet schools that will substantially strengthen the knowledge of academic subjects and the grasp of tangible and marketable vocational skills of all students attending such schools.
• Improve the capacity to continue offering magnet schools after the Federal funding is terminated.
• Ensure that all students enrolled in the magnet school programs have equitable access to a quality education enabling students to succeed academically and continue with post secondary education or productive employment.

For more information about any of these Magnet schools, please click on a school name above.