1. Working with Schoolsite CouncilsA
Parent Academy
Presentation
Working with Schoolsite Councils
A Guide for Parents in Understanding the Responsibilities of a Schoolsite Council Member
Division of Parent and Community Services
Los Angeles County Office of Education

2. The Changing Role of Parent Involvement “RESPONSIBILITY”

3. The Schoolsite Council
In 2001 the California Legislature passed a law requiring each school receiving categorical funds to:
• form a Schoolsite Council that would be responsible for developing a Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)
• include the plans of all participating school programs funded through the Consolidated Application
• include other school programs if the school chooses
EC 64001(a)

4. The Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)
The purpose of the SPSA is to:
• CONSOLIDATE all school plans into one plan
• FOCUS on increasing student achievement
DEVELOP goals based on student test results on the STAR Program and California High School Exit Exam

5. The Schoolsite Council
The Schoolsite Council is made up of teachers, school staff, parents, community members, and where applicable, students
The SSC is required to:
• Develop the plan with advice from school advisory committees
• Address the goals to increase achievement
• Decide allocation of funds to meet the goals
• Recommend the plan to governing board
• Monitor implementation of the plan
• Update the plan and budget annually

6. II. Organizing the Schoolsite Council

7. Composition of Elementary Schoolsite Council

8. Composition of Secondary Schoolsite Council

9. Selection/Election of SSC Members
The law states members must be chosen by their peer group and the process documented in the minutes.
Board policy or Council bylaws should specify:
How the notice of elections for each peer group is carried out
Process to choose the members in each groups
Terms of members
How the balloting is recorded and the ballots to be kept on file.

10. Bylaws Guide the Council
While not required in the statute, bylaws can guide the work of the Council by describing:
Selection/election procedures for council members, length of terms, and minimum attendance required
Election and duties of officers
Regular meeting dates and times
Number of parents, teachers, and students if applicable, required for a quorum
Other items if needed

11. III. Organizing an Advisory Committee

12. Makeup of the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)
Step 1: Determine the percentage of English learners at the school. ELAC must have at least that
percentage of parents of English learners. The bylaws can specify a larger percentage, i.e. a majority, two-thirds.
Example
Step 2: Determine the advisory committee size.
Step 3: Notify the parent community of the ELAC elections
Number of English Learners Enrolled
Total School Enrollment
Percentage of Enrollment
125
700
18%

13. Selection/Election of ELAC Members
The law states members must be chosen by their peer group and the process documented. Board policy or ELAC bylaws should specify:
Notice of election to all parents
Meeting held to explain responsibilities and time commitment as a member of ELAC
That ONLY parents of English Learners vote but they can vote for parents of EL students and parents of “other” students on the same ballot
Terms of members and officers
A policy of non-discrimination

14. ELAC Responsibilities
ELAC is required by law to:
• Stress the IMPORTANCE of parents being involved in their children’s education!!
• Advise the SSC on needs of applicable student groups
• Review the Single Plan for Student Achievement
• Certify involvement in developing and reviewing plan

15. Options for Responsibilities
The members must first meet as a committee and go through a training to better understand their responsibilities.
The members can then meet to discuss and decide how they choose to carry out their responsibilities.
Their options are:
Operate as a full-fledged ELAC
Become a sub-committee of the SSC
Vote to delegate their responsibilities to the SSC for a period of 2-years

16. IV. Schoolsite Council Meetings

17. Public Meeting Rules - the Green Act
The SSC must observe the GREENE ACT:
Meetings must be open to the public
Meeting notice must be posted 72 hours in advance
Notice must specify date, time and place
Council business action limited to posted agenda
Violations require the item to be reconsidered at the next meeting after public input
Questions or information need not be on the agenda
Public must be allowed to address the council on items within its jurisdiction

18. SSC Officers and Duties
Officers for the SSC include:
Chairperson to conduct meetings
Vice-Chairperson to backup chairperson
Secretary to record all events and actions
Parliamentarian for procedural questions
Other officers or committee chairs as needed to carry out SSC business

19. School Principal Must be a member of the council
Provides information and leadership
Administers the approved plan
Participates in the business of the SSC but CANNOT VETO council decisions or change the approved plan.

20. Agendas Guide the Meeting
• Call to order
• Roll call of members
• Adoption of the agenda
• Approval of the minutes
• Comments by members
• Reports of standing committees
• Public comment period
• Unfinished business
• New business
• Discussion / Announcements
• Adjournment

21. Parliamentary Procedures Smooth the Way
Steps in Making a Motion
1. Obtain the floor
2. Make your motion
3. Wait for a second to your motion
4. Chair then states your motion
5. Explain motion as first speaker
The chair “puts” the question for discussion by the assembly
After discussion---the chair calls for the vote

22. Minutes are the Record The council must maintain records of:
Agendas of meetings
Minutes of meetings, attendance, discussions recommendations, and actions
Elections of members and officers
Official correspondence
Evidence of advisory group input and review
Copies of prior year school plans

23. SSC Committees The council may appoint committees to:
Gather and analyze information
Research and propose strategies for improving instruction
Examine materials, staffing, or funding
Draft portions of the plan for consideration

24. V. The Single Plan for Student Achievement

25. Focus of the SSC
The goal of the SSC is to develop a plan that will raise the academic performance of ALL sub-groups of students in achieving proficiency on the state academic standards.
To do this, the plan may address improvement in instruction, staff development, and new courses as a way to achieve the academic goals.

26. Reach Performance Goals
STAFFING AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
INVOLVEMENT
GOVERNANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION
FUNDING
TEACHING AND
LEARNING
STANDARDS, ASSESSMENT,
AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ACCESS
Reaffirm or Revise Goals
Revise
Improvement Strategies and Expenditures
Measure
Effectiveness
of Improvement
Strategies
Reach Performance Goals
Seek Advisory Committees Input
Monitor Implementation
Approve and Recommend SPSA to Local Board

27. Essential Information
The council needs to work with information from many sources.
Input from advisory groups
School allocations shown on the Consolidated Application
Local board policies
State and federal requirements
Information about programs
Student performance data
School’s current program of instruction

28. Step 1: Effectiveness of Current Practices
Analyze Instructional Program:
• Alignment of instruction and staff development to academic standards
• Current use of regular and categorical programs
Analyze Student Performance:
• Significance of data on low performing students
• Limitations of current program to enable students to achieve the academic standards
• School and community resources and barriers

29. Step 2: Input from Advisory Committees
The SSC should document their actions when: • Requesting advice from advisory committee(s)
• Considering the advice at SSC meetings
• Sharing the draft plan with advisory committee(s)
• Considering any additional input to the plan
• Sharing the final draft with advisory committee(s)
Note: If an advisory committee refuses to certify input, the local governing board then must decide whether to approve or send plan back to SSC for revision.

30. Step 3: Reaffirm or Revise School Goals
Goals should meet four tests; they should be:
• Derived from student sub-group performance data and analysis of educational practices
• Attainable in the period specified in the plan
• Specific to the needs of each student sub-group
• Measurable in time specified

31. Step 4: Revise Strategies & Funds
1. Funds allocated thru Consolidated Application to the school directly which may include:
• State Funds
• Federal Funds
2. Consolidated Application funds the district chooses to reallocate to its schools:
3. Other funded school programs the council chooses to include

32. Select Specific Improvements
1. Develop specific activities to reach each school goal selected for improving student achievement.
2. Determine how funds will be used to implement specified activities in the time allocated to reach stated goals.
Note: Refer to the Template for the Single Plan for Student Achievement provided by the California Department of Education.

33. Consider Centralized Services
Centralized services are instructional or support activities by district staff from funds allocated to the schools and are often “cost efficient” because:
• Staff development is held for several schools
• Costs are shared by several schools
• Language proficiency at a central location
Centralized Services requires the approval of the SSC, and must support the goals of the school plan.

34. Step 5: Recommend Plan to Board
The SSC, at a publicly posted meeting, must formally vote to recommend the plan to the governing board for approval, assuring the board that the council:
• was properly constituted
• reviewed its responsibilities
• sought input from all advisory
committees
• reviewed program content requirements
• based plan on analysis of current practices and student academic performance

35. Step 6: Monitor Implementation
District and school administrators must implement the plan in a timely and effective manner.
SSC monitors effectiveness of the planned activities to verify achievement of objectives:
• Assignment and training of qualified staff
• Identification of student participants
• Implementation of services
• Provision of materials/equipment to students
• Progress made toward SPSA goals

36. Evaluate Effectiveness of Plan
• At least annually the council must evaluate the effectiveness of planned activities by using multiple measures to determine progress toward school goals.
• Success of the plan is measured by improvement of identified student subgroups on the AMO’s and API.
• Evaluation of results is part of the analysis of student data for the following year’s plan.

37. Modify the Plan
The SPSA may be modified at any time with approval of the governing board and must be reviewed and updated at least annually.
Need to modify may be indicated because:
A major service or activity proves ineffective
A program allocation is changed
Essential staff, equipment/materials cannot be procured
An activity is non-compliant with state or federal law

38. CDE Information Web Sites
Single Plan for Student Achievement:
Academic Performance Index (API):
State Testing and Reporting data:
Consolidated Programs: