Transcript Parents for Public Schools

School Governance:
A Course for Parents
Site Council Fundamentals
Helping parents become partners in
improving student achievement through their
School Site Councils.
SSC Facts Every Member Should Know
• Every District public school has a
School Site Council (SSC).
• The SSC plays a legally-mandated role
in school governance.
• The SSC includes parent representatives
• Any parent can run for the SSC.
• All parents will get to vote for the parent
representatives on the SSC.
Who Serves on SSC?
• Teachers
• Other
school staff
• Parents
• Students
• Community
members
SSC Elections
• All members are elected, except the Principal.
• Peers elect peers:
• Teachers elect teachers.
• Non-teaching staff elect at least one representative.
• Parents elect parent and community
representatives.
• Students elect students
(in secondary schools only).
What Does the SSC Do?
SSC required for all schools
Develop and monitor school Budget
(all funds)
Broader role,
per SFUSD
Policy
Develop and monitor the Academic Plan
SSC required for schools receiving
state and federal categorical funds
(e.g., Title I)
Develop and monitor a plan for spending
categorical funds
Limited role,
per California
Ed Code
What Should the SSC Not Do?
DON’T
• Micromanage the Principal and
staff
• Try to hire and fire individual staff
members
•
•
Review lesson plans or try to
manage instruction
Pursue personal agendas
DO:
• Oversee implementation of the
Academic Plan
• Allocate funds to positions,
according to the priorities identified
in the Academic Plan
• Look to the Principal as the
school’s instructional leader
• Remember that the SSC is
responsible for the whole school,
and the achievement of all students
What is the Academic Plan?
• Outlines the school’s programs and strategies for
improving student achievement.
• Delineates the responsibilities for every person
involved in that process.
• Forms the basis through which schools are held
accountable for improving student achievement.
• Provides a framework for continuous improvement.
The Goals of the Academic Plan
The Academic Plan guides the school site to improve:
• Academic performance
• Instructional quality
• Educational equity
• School climate
• Parent involvement
SFUSD’s Philosophy of School Governance
• Site-based decision-making:
• Moves some decisions to the school site from the
central District office.
• Is the best way to meet the needs of all students.
• Shared decision-making:
• Incorporates the voices of the principal, teachers,
staff, parents, students, and other members of the
school community.
SSC Responsibilities
• Develop the school’s Academic Plan.
• Monitor the school’s academic performance against the
Academic Plan.
• Develop a Budget that supports the Academic Plan.
• Monitor the school’s spending against the Budget.
• Influence curriculum, instruction, professional development,
and staffing decisions.
• Ask questions!
SSC Member Commitment
SSC membership is a big responsibility. Members must commit to:
• Attend meetings regularly
• Ask questions!
• Become familiar with:
• Academic standards
• The school’s academic performance against the standards
• The school’s Academic Plan and site budget
• Engage the entire school community and gather input
• Help identify the school’s priorities
• Make tough trade-offs and difficult decisions
• Help create the school’s Academic Plan and site budget
Anyone who runs for SSC should be willing to make this commitment.
SSC Timeline
Final budget allocations
released
Preliminary budget
allocations released
Deadline: Draft
Academic Plan
SSC Summit
CST and STAR
results released
Deadline:
SSC Elections
Community
Meeting 1
Monitor and
Adjust Plan
Aug
Sept
Oct
Community
Meeting 2
Deadline: Final
Academic Plan
Develop and
Implement
Plan
Set Priorities
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
Thank You
For more information, please contact:
Parents for Public Schools – San Francisco
The Women’s Building
3543 18th St. #1
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-861-7077
www.ppssf.org