THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

WHAT IS A SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL, AND WHO ARE MEMBERS? The School Site Council (SSC) is an elected or selected group representative of the school’s staff, parents, and in secondary schools, students The process of election or selection is determined by the district, and should be outlined in district policy and/or SSC bylaws.

HOW ARE SSC MEMBERS CHOSEN? All members, with the exception of the principal, are elected or selected by their peer group. The principal is assigned to serve as a permanent, voting member on the council (This responsibility may not be delegated to someone else) The Principal is the ONLY assigned member of the SSC. The Principal is also a voting member of the SSC. The principal may not veto a decision of the SSC, but may accompany their decisions to the school board and express his concern/s.

HOW ARE SSC MEMBERS CHOSEN? The SSC selection process is determined by each district, and outlined in district policy and/or SSC bylaws Documentation of the process must be maintained for 3 years

MEMBERSHIP COMPOSITION OF AN ELEMENTARY SSC Composition of the SSC is specified in the California Ed. Code Section 52852 as follows: The SSC shall ensure parity between (a) the principal, classroom teachers, and other school personnel; and (b) parents or other community members selected or elected by parents

SAMPLE COMPOSITION OF AN ELEMENTARY SSC 3 Teachers 5 Parents or Community Members Total: 10 1 Principal Other Staff Note: On this Elementary SSC of ten persons the number of school personnel is exactly equal to the number of parents and/or community representatives. The five school staff members are made up of: 1 Principal (the ONLY assigned member of the SSC.), 3 teachers, and 1 “other school staff”. The staff side totals 5. This means the parent/community side must also be comprised of a total 5 people.

MEMBERSHIP COMPOSITION OF A SECONDARY SSC The Ed. Code Section 52012 specifies the SSC shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the principal, classroom teachers, and other school personnel, and (b) equal numbers of parents or other community members selected by parents, and students

SAMPLE COMPOSITION OF A SECONDARY SSC 4 Teachers 3 Parents or Community Members 1 Principal Other Staff Students Total: 12 Note that on the secondary SSC the number of students are equal to the number of parents and/or community members. These two groups make up the “community side” of the SSC. In this example the Community side is comprised of 3 students and 3 parents/community members, bringing this side of the circle to a total of 6. The staff side must also be 6 representatives and is comprised of: 1 Principal, 4 teachers, and 1 “other staff”, for a total of 6.

MORE ABOUT COMPOSITION OF THE SSC In both the elementary and secondary SSC, classroom teachers shall comprise the majority of persons represented under subdivision (a) of this section At the discretion of the local governing board, the middle school may, but is not required to, include student representation on the SSC Student representation is required on a High School SSC.

COMPOSITION, continued Parent or community members, representing that group, may not be employed at the school site “Other school personnel” refers to classified and/or certificated staff; i.e., school nurse, resource teacher, vice principal, instructional aide, secretary, etc. Employed parents may serve on the SSC as representatives of their working group, i.e., teachers, other school personnel.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SSC ARE TO: Annually facilitate the revision/update of the school goals, improvement strategies and planned expenditures which are outlined in the Single School Plan for Student Achievement Ensure the school goals and improvement strategies are measurable and based on an analysis of verifiable state and local data Ensure the goals, improvement strategies, and proposed expenditures are legally compliant and support the district’s goals and LEA (Local Educational Agency) plan

RESPONSIBILITIES, continued Seek input from all advisory committees Approve and recommend the updated Single School Plan to the local governing board for their approval Monitor the implementation of the approved School Plan, making modifications as necessary Measure the effectiveness of the improvement strategies and expenditures Maintain documentation of all SSC actions and activities for three years The outreach for input must be documented. Successful SSCs seek input frequently, involving all stakeholders as fully as possible. The local school board is the final authority in granting approval to implement the school plan. If they do not approve the plan, it is returned to the SSC for revision. When the School Plan is modified significantly, the local board must approve the change/s.

OPERATING THE SSC It is recommended local School Board policy and/or SSC bylaws specify: The means of selecting SSC members and officers Terms of office for members/officers Method of membership replacement when midterm vacancies occur The roles and responsibilities of the SSC The roles and responsibilities of SSC officers

OPERATING THE SSC, continued School Site Councils operate under the rules and regulations of the Greene Act, EC Section 35147(c) and should be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order The SSC Chairperson and Principal develop the agenda for each meeting The SSC agenda is publicly posted 72 hours in advance of each meeting SSC actions are limited to the publicly posted agenda items The Greene Act requires: All meetings shall be open to the public and any member of the public shall be able to address the council or committee during the meeting concerning any item within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council or committee. Notice of the meeting shall be posted at the schoolsite, and or other appropriate place accessible to the public, at least 72 hours before the time set for the meeting. The notice shall specify the date, time, and location of the meeting and contain an agenda describing each item of business to be discussed and/or acted upon. The SSC may not take any action on any item of business unless that item appeared on the posted agena except under the following circumstances: The SSC members present, by unanimous vote, find that there is a need to take immediate action and that the need for action came to their attention after the posting of the agenda. If a SSC violates the procedural meeting requirements, and upon demand of any person, the SSC shall reconsider the item at its next meeting, after allowing for public input on the item. Any materials provided to a SSC shall be made available to any member of the public who requests the materials.

OPERATING THE SSC Sample Agenda: Call to order Roll Call (quorum established) Call for additions/deletions to agenda* Read/approve/correct minutes Public comment (required agenda item) Report of standing and special committees Unfinished Business New Business Adjournment By unanimous vote the SSC may add an agenda item only if immediate action is required, and the need for such action was not known at the time the original agenda was posted.

OPERATING THE SSC, continued The SSC can assign subcommittees, comprised of non SSC members, to assist with the work of analyzing data, and evaluating/revising the school plan A successful SSC involves the various represented groups by regularly seeking input and providing information To ensure continuing communication and participation, it is helpful to provide minutes of SSC meetings to staff and parent groups. Minutes can be posted in public places and/or sent to staff and other advisory groups .

RESOURCES A Guide and Template for The Single Plan for Student Achievement, A Handbook for School Site Councils, CDE, March 2006 The required planning activities and elements of the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) are outlined in ED Codes 33133, 41507, 41572, and 64001