About The ACE Program
The Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE) program is in accordance with California Education Code Sections 58500 through 58512 which provides that school districts may establish and maintain alternative schools and programs of choice.
Our mission is to create a cooperative community dedicated to raising each child up to his/her potential. We will encourage and incorporate parent involvement to support the idea that education is a shared responsibility. Together we will support our students to be successful as they proceed through the educational system.
We want to educate children for a changing world and to challenge young thinkers to be tomorrow's problem solvers. We will nurture globally responsible citizens who are empowered to think beyond the confines of the classroom and who recognize their impact on the world around them.
The ACE philosophy of education honors and supports each child's unique development. Our goal is to empower children to reach their potential in a supportive atmosphere where they experience joy, creativity, and self-confidence while learning about themselves and the world around them.
For further explanation about the ACE Program, please refer to our Program Guide.
The ACE curriculum is based on the following:
- integrated thematic curriculum,
- multi-age classrooms,
- differentiated instruction,
- cooperative learning,
- extended learning experiences,
- authentic assessment
- family participation
All instruction is based on California State Standards.
Program History
The Alternative Cooperative Education program (ACE Program) was an alternative program created within Vacaville Unified School District in 1991 at Markham Elementary School. The ACE program was started by parents who wanted to become more involved in the classroom. These parents, along with a core group of VUSD teachers, created a program that was run as a "school within a school."
The ACE Program had always drawn students from all over the district as well as students from other districts and the homeschooling community. Parents were allowed to be involved members of the educational community created within the ACE Program. They provided one on one or small group tutoring in academic areas as well as assisted with administrative tasks. Parents also ran committees and led classroom activities that resulted in an enriched learning environment. As a result, the ACE Program thrived, often with waiting lists of students whose families desired placement within this program.
In 2010, the program relocated to the Hemlock Elementary School campus and chartered. Although a new charter school, ACE remained true to its roots. Parent involvement remained a cornerstone of the school and thus enriching the educational experience for our students. Beginning August 2017, ACE had to change its status and is now known as the ACE Program at Hemlock. We continue to provide students with a well rounded education with family partnership as our foundation.
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