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Working with Schoolsite Councils

A Guide for Parents in Understanding the Responsibilities of a Schoolsite Council Member

Division of Parent and Community ServicesLos Angeles County Office of Education

A A Parent Academy Parent Academy PresentationPresentation

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The Changing Role of Parent Involvement“RESPONSIBILITY”

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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)

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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

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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

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II. Organizing the Schoolsite Council

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Composition of Elementary Schoolsite Council

Teachers

Other StaffParents

Principal

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Composition of Secondary Schoolsite Council

Teachers

Other StaffParents

Students

Principal

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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.

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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

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III. Organizing an Advisory Committee

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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%

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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

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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

ELAC Responsibilities

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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:

1. Operate as a full-fledged ELAC

2. Become a sub-committee of the SSC

3. Vote to delegate their responsibilities to the SSC for a period of 2-years

Options for Responsibilities

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IV. Schoolsite Council Meetings

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Public Meeting Rules - the Green Act

The SSC must observe the GREENE ACT:

1) Meetings must be open to the public

2) Meeting notice must be posted 72 hours in advance

3) Notice must specify date, time and place

4) Council business action limited to posted agenda

5) Violations require the item to be reconsidered at the next meeting after public input

6) Questions or information need not be on the agenda

7) Public must be allowed to address the council on items within its jurisdiction

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SSC Officers and Duties

Officers for the SSC include:

1) Chairperson to conduct meetings

2) Vice-Chairperson to

backup chairperson

3) Secretary to record all

events and actions

4) Parliamentarian for procedural questions

5) Other officers or committee chairs as needed to carry

out SSC business

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School Principal

1) Must be a member of the council

2) Provides information and leadership

3) Administers the approved plan

4) Participates in the business of the SSC but CANNOT VETO council decisions orchange the approved plan.

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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

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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

6. The chair “puts” the question for discussion by the assembly

7. After discussion---the chair calls for the vote

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Minutes are the Record

The council must maintain records of:

1) Agendas of meetings

2) Minutes of meetings, attendance, discussions recommendations, and actions

3) Elections of members and officers

4) Official correspondence

5) Evidence of advisory group input and review

6) Copies of prior year school plans

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SSC Committees

The council may appoint committees to:

1) Gather and analyze information

2) Research and propose strategies

for improving instruction

3) Examine materials,

staffing, or funding

4) Draft portions of the plan for consideration

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V. The Single Plan for Student Achievement

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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.

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Reaffirm or Revise Goals

ReviseImprovement Strategies and Expenditures

MeasureEffectiveness

of Improvement

Strategies

Reach Performance

GoalsSeek Advisory

Committees Input Monitor

Implementation

Approve and Recommend

SPSA to Local Board

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Essential InformationThe council needs to work with information from many sources.

1) Input from advisory groups

2) School allocations shown on the Consolidated Application

3) Local board policies

4) State and federal requirements

5) Information about programs

6) Student performance data

7) School’s current program of instruction

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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

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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 mustdecide whether to approve or send plan back to SSC for revision.

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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

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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:

• State Funds

• Federal Funds

3. Other funded school programs the council chooses to include

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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.

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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.

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Step 5: Recommend Plan to Board

The SSC, at a publicly posted meeting, must formallyvote 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

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Step 6: Monitor Implementation

District and school administrators must implement the plan in a timely and effective manner.

SSC monitors effectiveness ofthe 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

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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.

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Modify the PlanThe 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

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CDE Information Web Sites

Single Plan for Student Achievement:http://www.cde.ca.gov/nclb/sr/le/singeplan.asp

Academic Performance Index (API):http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/

State Testing and Reporting data:http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/

Consolidated Programs:http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/ca/