Check out our list of current clubs and athletics! All clubs are student led and supervised by a campus staff member.

Clubs

• Yearbook
• 3-D Design After-School Program
• Experiment 101 After-School Program
• Calligraphy Club
• Cooking Club
• Builders Club

Athletics

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Dance
• Students Run L.A.

Our school welcomes all students, regardless of background, and encourages everyone to join our inclusive community. We enhance our instructional programs and professional development to ensure that English Learners (ELs) engage deeply in rigorous and challenging content. Valuing family and community partnerships, we leverage their diverse languages, skills, cultures, and experiences. We empower all stakeholders to prioritize the needs of ELs, integrating ELD principles across our curriculum, supporting their academic growth, and affirming their cultural and linguistic identities throughout their educational journey.

Learn More

Special Education & Psychological Services Commitment

Ánimo Jefferson’s special education and psychological services team is committed to addressing barriers to learning through an integrated academic, social-emotional and behavioral system that bridges services to students with disabilities in an inclusive environment.

Our approach

We provide high quality and accessible programming that embraces the strengths of our students. Our special education supports are created with high structure in order to foster a highly inclusive supported environment for all of our scholars and their families.

Department Contact Information

Dr. Susana Campo
Senior Director of Special Education & Psychological Services

scampo@greendot.org
(323)565-1600

Special Education Program
Administrator
Didi Smith

deidra.smith@greendot.org
(323)565-1600

School Psychologist

Judith Plasencia-Peinado
judith.peinado@greendot.org

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can my child attend Ánimo Jefferson if they have an IEP?

Yes, we are a public school and welcome all students.

I have questions about my child’s IEP. Who should I reach out to?
Please contact the school and ask to speak with your child’s special education teacher.

Who should I contact for a special education evaluation or support for my child?
Please contact our school psychologist to share your concerns.

Related Links:

Notice of Procedural Safeguards Special Education Rights of Parents and Children -English

Aviso de Garantías Procesales Derechos a la Educación Especial de Padres-Español

Understanding The IEP Process, For Parents- VIDEO English

Our School Liaison is:
Melissa Peña
Community School Manager
1149 S. Hill St., Ste. 600
323-565-1600

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act for Homeless Children and Youth entitles all school-aged children experiencing homelessness to the same free and appropriate public education that is provided to non-homeless students. To that end, Green Dot has adopted the following policy regarding the enrollment and education of students experiencing homelessness. 

A homeless student is defined as a person who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. It includes children and youths who: 

• Live with another family/are sharing the housing of other persons, due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (doubled or tripled up); 
• Live in an emergency or transitional shelter; 
• Live in a hotel or motel due to lack of alternate adequate accommodations; 
• Live in a trailer park or campsite due to lack of alternate adequate accommodations; 
• Have been abandoned at a hospital;
• Have a primary nighttime residence that is public or a private place that is not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings; 
• Are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 
• Migratory children and unaccompanied youth (youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian) may be considered homeless if they meet the above definition of “homeless.”

Homeless status is determined in cooperation with the parent or guardian. In the case of unaccompanied youth, status is determined by the McKinney-Vento Liaison.

The Principal designates the following staff person as the McKinney-Vento Liaison for students experiencing homelessness:

Melissa Peña
Community School Manager
1149 S. Hill St., Ste. 600
323-565-1600

The McKinney-Vento Liaison shall ensure that:

1.  Homeless students are identified by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies, and through the annual housing questionnaire administered by the Charter School. 
2. Homeless students enroll in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed at Green Dot. 
3. Homeless students and families receive educational services for which they are eligible, including Head Start and Even Start programs, and referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health services, housing services, and other appropriate services. 
4. Parents/guardians are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children. 
5. Public notice of the educational rights of homeless children is disseminated in locations frequented by parents, guardians, and unaccompanied youths, including schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens, in a manner and form understandable to the parents and guardians of homeless youth and unaccompanied youth. 
6. Enrollment/admissions disputes are mediated in accordance with law, the Green Dot charter(s), and Board policy. Parents/guardians and any unaccompanied youth are fully informed of all transportation services, as applicable. 
7. Charter School personnel providing McKinney-Vento services receive professional development and other support. The McKinney-Vento Liaison shall ensure that training related to Green Dot’s homeless education program policies and recognizing signs that students are at-risk of or are experiencing homelessness is offered at least annually to certificated and classified employees providing services to students experiencing homelessness, including but not limited to, teachers, support staff, and other school staff who work with students. The McKinney-Vento Liaison shall inform certificated and classified employees of the availability of training and services theMcKinney-Vento School Liaison provides to aid in the identification of and provision of services to students at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. 
8. The McKinney-Vento Liaison collaborates with State coordinators and community and school personnel responsible for the provision of education and related services to homeless children and youths. 
9. Unaccompanied youth are enrolled in school; have opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic standards as the State establishes for other children and youth; and are informed of their status as independent students and that the youths may obtain assistance from the McKinney-Vento Liaison to receive verification of such status for the purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 
10. The California Department of Education (“CDE”) publishes a list of the contact information for the Homeless Education Liaisons in the state, which is available at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/

Green Dot shall also immediately admit/enroll a youth experiencing homelessness who seeks to enroll in a Green Dot school, if the youth would otherwise be eligible to attend and subject to the school’s capacity and pursuant to the procedures stated in the Green Dot charter and Board policy. The youth shall be immediately enrolled even if the student lacks records normally required for enrollment (such as previous academic records, records of immunizations, other required health records, proof of residency) or has missed application or enrollment deadlines during any period of homelessness. Records will immediately be requested from the previous school. If the student needs to obtain immunizations or does not possess immunization or other medical records, the Principal or designee shall refer the parent/guardian to the McKinney-Vento Liaison. The McKinney-Vento Liaison shall assist the parent/guardian in obtaining the necessary immunizations or records for the student.

• On-site school psychologists and college counselors
• Student-tailored academic Advisory course
• Restorative Justice Discipline Model
• Community Building opportunities and grade-level events
• Mental health and behavioral support for all students
• Tutoring and office hours to support students\’ academic needs
• Personalized learning for all students

Green Dot Public Schools does not discriminate against any person on the basis of the characteristics listed in Education Code Section 220 (actual or perceived disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, immigration status, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code or association with an individual who has any of the aforementioned characteristics) and Education Code Sections 221.5 and 221.51 in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Green Dot Public Schools also does not discriminate against any person on the basis of legal or economic status, primary language, or English Learner status in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Green Dot Public Schools adheres to all provisions of federal law related to students with disabilities, including but not limited to, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA”).  Green Dot Public Schools is committed to providing a work and educational atmosphere that is free of unlawful harassment and the “Discrimination/Harassment Policy” complies with the requirements of Titles IV, VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, or national origin), Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (sex), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (mental or physical disability), The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and other applicable federal and state laws.  Green Dot Public Schools also prohibits sexual harassment, including cyber sexual bullying, and harassment based upon pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, religious affiliation, creed, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance or regulation.  Green Dot Public Schools does not condone or tolerate harassment of any type, including discrimination, intimidation, or bullying, including cyber sexual bullying, by any employee, independent contractor or other person with which Green Dot Public Schools does business, or any other individual, student, or volunteer.  This applies to all employees, students, or volunteers and relationships, regardless of position or gender.  Green Dot Public Schools will promptly and thoroughly investigate any complaint of harassment and take appropriate corrective action, if warranted.  Inquiries, complaints, or grievances regarding harassment as described in this policy should be directed to the Green Dot Public Schools Uniform Complaint Procedures (“UCP”) Compliance Officer as identified in Policy C. 16.0.

Rev. 06/2021