Bilingual Task Force Committee
Twenty years after the historic Lau v. Nichols decision, few research studies have been devoted to the learning needs of Chinese Americans. Recent attempts to create Chinese bilingual programs based on Spanish bilingual studies resulted in fragmented, unclear program expectations. In 1994, TACT members formed a bilingual curriculum committee to review past and current models. TACT members devoted many hours to working on practical steps toward reshaping the program. Currently, TACT is participating on a bilingual task force convened at the request of Superintendent Waldemar Rojas. The task force is made up of educators, parents, and community members. The task force's goal is to address the achievement of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students and to made recommendations. Fundraising Committee To support TACT scholarships, awards and community projects, the organization has been active in fund-raising. As a volunteer organization with priorities different from the tradition educational establishment, TACT recognized the importance of independent funding to meet current needs. New fund-raising ideas are constantly being explored and tested. Scholarship Committee The Student Scholarship Program was initiated in 1974 to recognize the outstanding work of Chinese students in the senior high schools. Each year, TACT searches for students who will apply their skills to their workplace and devote a portion of their time and talents toward community and social concerns. |
Curriculum Committee
Discouraged by the lack of usable materials, TACT created a Curriculum Committee which sought out grants to develop its own materials. These grants resulted in filmstrips, a film, short stories, historical calendars and an Emmy-award-winning video series. These materials have been the subject of many workshops held for SFUSD teachers. In 1992, the SFUSD included TACT's filmstrip Chinese Americans: Realities and Myths in the History/Social Science supplementary curriculum. TACT has developed and disseminated calendars which depict the historical role of the Chinese in America (1982), Chinese Women in America (1985), and an A-B-C calendar (1989). Most recently, it has published yearly curriculum issues of the TACT newsletter. In 1988, TACT developed a much-acclaimed teacher resource list of books, activities, and stores where materials could be purchased. In 1989, TACT developed a set of guidelines with which to celebrate the Lunar New Year. In 1993, TACT sponsored a Lunar New Year workshop with a mentor teacher at Commodore Stockton School. The TACT Newsletter regularly features book reviews and gives voice to student writings. |