School Governance: A Course for Parents

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School GovernanceA Course for Parents

• ELAC Made Easy
• Helping parents become partners in improving
  student achievement through theirSchool Site
  Councils.

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SSC Timeline
Final budget allocations released
Preliminary budget allocations released
Deadline Draft Academic Plan
SSC Summit
Deadline Final Academic Plan
CST and STAR results released
Deadline SSC Elections
Community Meeting 1
Community Meeting 2
Monitor and Adjust Plan
Set Priorities
Develop and Implement
Plan
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
We are Here
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What Is ELAC?

• English Learner Advisory Committee
• ELAC is a committee for parents whose children
  are English Language Learners (ELL).
• Schools with more than 21 ELL students MUST have
  ELAC.
• You do not have to speak English to be on ELAC.

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The Role of ELAC

• The purpose of ELAC is to advise the principal,
  school staff and School Site Council (SSC) on
  programs and services for English learners.

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ELAC Advises the School About

• The schools Academic Plan and budget
• The parent survey for the schools English
  Learner program
• Administration of the schools annual language
  census (CELDT test)
• A plan to ensure attendance (if needed)

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ELAC Can Be

• A independent committee, or
• A subcommittee of the Site Council

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An Effective ELAC

• Is an organized committee, which
• Understands the purpose and functions of ELAC.
• Meets on a regular basis.
• Communicates with principal, staff, SSC and
  school community.
• Develops by-laws, agendas, and minutes.

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Essential Criteria of ELAC

• Elections are held in October for two years.
• Parents of ELL students elect parent members of
  ELAC.
• At least one member of ELAC serves as a
  representative to District ELAC (DELAC).

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ELAC Meeting Requirements

• Meetings must be open to the public and allow for
  public input
• Meeting notices must be announced and posted at
  least 72 hours before the meeting.
• Public must have access to all materials
  discussed and/or distributed at the meeting.

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Parent Participation in ELAC

• Challenges
• Language and cultural barriers
• Hard to get parents to show up
• Hard to explain the role of ELAC

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Parent Participation in ELAC

• Solutions
• Get ELAC training at your school from the
  district or PPS-SF.
• Formalize the relationship between SSC and ELAC,
  and write it into the Academic Plan
• Combine SSC/ELAC meetings on alternating months.
• Send SSC rep to ELAC meetings.
• Encourage ELAC member to run for SSC.
• Translate the Academic Plan and SSC meeting
  minutes.

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Participation in ELAC Is a Benefit for Parents!

• Training opportunities
• Parents can receive information and ask questions
• Way for parents to participate
• Way to become aware of student academic progress.
• Leadership development

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ELAC Members

• President
• Presides over meetings
• Signs letters/documentation
• Vice President
• Presides over meetings when President is absent
• Secretary
• Takes meeting notes
• Files notes in a place where parents can access
  information

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Additional Members of ELAC

• Principal
• Teachers and assistants
• Community members
• Other parents, including non-ELL parents

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ELAC Parent Questions

• What activities does the staff do to learn
  curriculum to serve ELL students?
• How does the staff develop a curriculum that
  actually teaches the standards to address the
  needs of ELL students?
• How does the principal oversee this process?
• What opportunity do teachers have as a team to
  work together to coordinate their ELL curriculum?

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Thank You

• For more information, please contact
• Parents for Public Schools San Francisco3543
  18th Street 1San Francisco, CA
  94110415-861-7077www.ppssf.org