Taft Elementary School

500 W. Keller

School District

Santa Ana Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:28
Type

public

School Map for Santa Ana Unified School District

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Reviews

Submitted by teacher on August 03, 2022

Taft's DHH program provide students with rich learning environments in both the Oral and the Total Communication programs. The teachers and instructional assistants are highly qualified, many holding advanced degrees. Taft’s Early Start DHH program services families whose children, ages 0-3, have been diagnosed with deafness or hearing loss. They work with families to educate them about hearing loss, language and speech development, listening development and devices, and all other areas of development including cognitive, social/emotional, motor and self-help. All methods of establishing communication are used in the E.S. program - listening and spoken language in English and Spanish and sign language. Taft's entire DHH program strives for excellence and is full of wonderful learning opportunities, outstanding academic supports, positive encouragement, parent enrichment events, and focused, caring student attention.
Submitted by other on March 01, 2019

I am concerned about the quality of Taft Elementary School's Deaf & Hard of Hearing program that supports students and their language proficiency. The program has two instruction approach components: Total Communication & Oral. Total Communication aims to use a number of modes of communication such as signed, oral, auditory, written & visual aids. Total Communication teachers sign an artificial signing system which is called Signing Exact English and speak English language. This method has been proved ineffective by research studies and hinge deaf students' language acquisition progress. Oral approach is to use lipreading, speech, and mimicking the mouth shapes and breathing patterns of speech. Teach deaf students at age 0 to 5 to hear and speak is not same as students to acquire a language regardless their hearing level and devices (e.g. cochlear implant & hearing aids) are used. There is a growing research studies show a spoken language, English does not ensure a deaf child's full access to a language at age 0 to 5. Research studies show that language deprivation and delay between ages 0-5 is the major cause of many deaf children's cognitive development, academic performance and social/emotional struggles. The type of language-rich environment and quality of interaction to which children acquire in the first five years of life greatly affect the outcomes in their academic performance and later in their adult lives. By 5 year old, a child's brain is already at 90% developed. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing program offers an early start service and resources. One of their services is working with the specialists which related to speech and auditory aspect. Their early start service does not provide an American Sign Language specialist or a language development psychologist. Language deprivation is a neurological emergency. Auditory deprivation is a difference in sensory experience. I reconsider about the quality of my child's education at Taft Elementary School.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2014

This school did not leave a good taste in my mouth. Needs improvement in everything from the principal to staff. Really need to raise thier standards. Really disappointed with this school. Pulled my kids out of there.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2014

An Excellent School. Great Teachers that have a great deal of love and patience to our children. They also provide a place for children with special needs. I am eternally thankful for all that they do for our kids. I encourage for all parents to be more involved so that our children can become a success in the future. Thank you Taft Elementary School Staff/Team for all that you do.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2013

The school is very good I have two kids here Im happy with the progres of my kids . The teachers are excelend . Even when they have to many kids in each class room. They do the best they can do it.
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2012

As tax payers this school has had many repairs done to make it a better and safer place for our kids. It upsets me that the principle being the leader and example does not enforce the rules for running in, on, or around planters especially in handicapped bus loading areas. I heard a lady approach him and say a teacher asked the kids over there to quit running and climbing on pipes and they ignore her? He says, "that happens allot." Field trips, I have been embrassed when a 6th grade class is compared to a 2nd grade class and taxes or grants pay for this. The bus trip for a 6th grade field trip was unsafe when you have kids sitting backwards in a seats. Boys slugging each other, and a teacher saying they are having fun. It is a very disrespectful school and it starts at the top. Do the teachers care, YES, but they need to work together on rules, but that starts at the top. After school program for the 1st time is setting rules, making kids walk and be respectful. This is the 1st time I would ever consider putting my child in after school care