Frequently Asked Questions

How are PACT classrooms different from other classrooms?

In acknowledgement of individual learning styles, PACT teachers and parents use a variety of teaching methods to engage all children. Material is frequently presented in an experiential, hands-on manner that allows children to gain knowledge through research and guided discovery. To achieve differentiated instruction and to take advantage of small child-to-adult ratios, our classrooms may have several learning centers running simultaneously.

In a PACT classroom you will see children moving around. Our classrooms respect the nature of childhood and encourage freedom of movement for exploration.

Who is eligible to attend the PACT school?

PACT is open to any student, kindergarten through 5th grade, in the Mountain View-Whisman School District. Inter-district transfers are permitted as space allows.

Do PACT teachers teach district core curriculum?
Yes, PACT teachers cover the district's core curriculum, but our students' education goes far beyond what is mandated by the district and the state. Our classroom environments support individual choice and responsibility. Within this framework, PACT emphasizes that students challenge themselves academically and personally.

What is the background of PACT teachers?
The PACT School has been successful at recruiting and retaining high quality teachers. All of our teachers are fully state certified. Teachers work in PACT because it matches their personal philosophy of learning, teaching, being innovative and collaborating with families.

What is the child-to-adult ratio in a PACT classroom?
Because PACT parents participate in the classrooms, our classes frequently have two, three, or four adults working with the students. This allows PACT teachers to spend more time with each student and offer differentiated instruction.
K/1 and 2/3 classrooms have a maximum of twenty students, while our fourth and fifth grade classrooms may contain up to thirty.

What about academic achievement?

On the state-mandated achievement tests, PACT scores are among the highest in the district across all categories: reading, math, language and spelling.

How do PACT children compare to other children when they reach middle school?

PACT graduates are typically self-confident students with a practiced ability to interact with adults, work in teams and use a wide variety of resources and skills as they move through middle and high school. A significant proportion of former PACT students are represented on the academic honor rolls, participate in accelerated programs, and are a positive part of their middle schools.

What types of enrichment activities does PACT provide?

PACT parents bring their own expertise into the classroom. Parents have implemented activities such as our intensive Arts Focus program, an educational garden, woodworking, dance, engineering projects, cooking, music and theatrical arts. PACT students go on twice as many field trips as other schools in the district.

What is the Arts Focus program?

Arts Focus is an intensive arts program that offers PACT children an additional 45 hours of art instruction per year beyond the standard district commitment. The program was conceived, designed and implemented by PACT parents who volunteer their time extensively to make it happen. The program concludes each year with a professional-grade art exhibit during the last month of school.

The Arts Focus curriculum is designed to:

Substantially increase the number of hours the children participate in creative exploration.

Expose them to a much greater variety of art media than what the schools are able to provide.

Contribute enormously to the children's cognitive, creative, academic, and social development. The goal of this program is for the children to experience all phases of the creative process, with emphasis on the free expression of ideas rather than on simply creating facsimiles of pre-established end products.

What is the length of PACT's day?

For first through fifth grades at PACT, the regular school day lasts from 8:10 until 2:30 or 2:55 for older children. The regular kindergarten day begins at 10:20 and lasts until 2:30. Thursdays are minimum days and PACT students, like all MVWSD elementary students, are dismissed at 12:10. During Arts Focus weeks, kindergarteners have an adjusted Thursday/Friday schedule.

Is before-school and after-school care available?

Yes! There are a variety of choices, so we gave child care its own page so you can learn more details.

Are any extracurricular activities available?

Yes, we have a wealth of extracurricular activities for our students. While there is some variation from year to year, current after-school activities include chorus, chess club, folkloric dance, drama club, art class, engineering with Legos, soccer, and Mandarin language class.

Does PACT organize social events?

Yes! The parents, children, and teachers of PACT are a close-knit community and socialize together both informally and at organized events such as the annual Trunk-or-Treat, Moms' and Dads' Nights Out, Grandparents' Day, Rock Climbing, Ice Skating, Pumpkin Patch excursions, rocket launches, potlucks, summer picnics, game nights, PJ and movie nights, and barbecues.

What are the requirements for participation in PACT?

Work in your child's classroom two hours per week
Serve on one committee (Publicity, Arts Focus, etc.)
One classroom "job" (coordinator, calendar, pet care, etc.)
Work in support of the school 18 hours a year (library, yard duty, etc.)
Attend a 10-hour course on aiding in the classroom (new parents only)
Chaperone or support two field trips

How are parents prepared to work in the classroom?

New parents who will be working in the classroom are required to attend a 10-hour training course. On-going "refresher courses" are offered to returning parents at various times through the year.

Do parents plan the curriculum?

No, PACT teachers plan a curriculum which meets district and state requirements. However, parents are invited to initiate and implement enrichment activities in collaboration with teachers that support core curriculum.

My child is registered for a different Mountain View school, but I would like to change to PACT.

Call the Enrollment/Attendance Coordinator, Amy LaGalante, at the District Office to make the change. Phone: 650 526-3581

How Is PACT administered?

PACT is administered by three leadership groups. Two of these comprise both parents and teachers and oversee day-to-day operations, and policy and curricula, respectively. The third team is composed of teachers and the school principal and manages educational requirements and professional development.

Does PACT charge tuition?

No. PACT is a public school, so it does not charge tuition. However, each year PACT families are asked to make a donation of approximately $200 per child.

Who are our families?

PACT families come from all sorts of backgrounds and many different communities around Silicon Valley, yet they hold a shared philosophy about how important it is to the child to provide a developmental and innovative learning environment that involves parents.

Our family situations vary greatly and include parents who both work out of the home, single parents, grandparents, and families with many children in PACT at once.

What grades are accepting students?

PACT is currently accepting students into all grades, as well as into the incoming Kindergarten class.

Where is The PACT School located?

The PACT School is shares the Mariano Castro Elementary School campus with the Dual Immersion Program. This campus is centrally located at 505 Escuela Ave. near downtown Mountain View.