school site council (ssc) essentials in brief an overview of ssc roles and responsibilities prepared...

School Site Council (SSC)Essentials in brief

An overview of SSC roles and responsibilities

Prepared and Presented by Wanda Chang Shironaka

San Juan Unified School District

Adapted from SCUSD State and Federal ProgramsWanda Shironaka

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Workshop Overview

• Legislative Intent• General function of SSCs• SSC Responsibilities• SSC Composition• Member Roles and Responsibilities• SJUSD Requirements• SSC Support

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SSC Legislative Intent

Key principles:• Education is a joint effort• Key stakeholders should have input • Use of supplemental resources should focus

on increasing student achievement• Funds should be used cohesively and

according to legislative purpose (Plan)• Monitoring of results (data)

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General Function

To serve as the school community’s representative body for determining the focus of the school’s academic instructional program and all related state and federal resources.

California Education Code 52852

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SSC Responsibility

Participate in the development of the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), and evaluate the effectiveness of programs by monitoring the use of Title I and other supplemental funding available to the school site.

California Education Code 64001

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SSC Composition

At the elementary level the council shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the principal, classroom teachers and other school personnel; and (b) parents or other community members selected by parents.

At both the elementary and secondary levels, classroom teachers shall comprise the majority of persons represented under category (a).

--California Education Code §52852

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Elementary Composition

• Parent or community membership is equal to school staff membership.

• Classroom teachers must be in the majority of the staff side.

• “Other School Personnel” includes: other administrative positions, other non-classroom teacher positions, and all site classified personnel.

• Smallest council is composed of 10 members.

• Middle schools may use the elementary composition.

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Elementary Council SizesCOUNCIL

SIZEPARENTS or COMMUNITY MEMBERS

PRINCIPAL OTHERSCHOOL

PERSONNEL

CLASSROOM TEACHERS

12 6 1 1 4

14 7 1 1 5

14 7 1 2 4

16 8 1 2 5

16 8 1 1 6

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Secondary Composition

• Middle and High Schools:– Middle schools may use the elementary composition

• Parent or community membership is equal to school staff membership.

• Classroom teachers must be in the majority of the staff side.

• “Other School Personnel” includes: other administrative positions, other non-classroom teacher positions, and all site classified personnel.

• Student Members

• Smallest council is composed of 12 members.

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Secondary Council SizesCOUNCIL

SIZEPARENTS or COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Student Members

PRINCIPAL OTHERSCHOOL

PERSONNEL

CLASSROOM TEACHERS

12 3 3 1 1 4

16 4 4 1 2 5

16 4 4 1 1 6

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Member Roles and Responsibilities

SSC members should• Regularly attend SSC meetings• Become knowledgeable about educational

issues related to curriculum, instruction and assessment

• Review meeting and operating procedures• Develop annual meeting calendar• Represent their constituents in support of

increased student achievement

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Member Roles and Responsibilities

The Principal• Is an active member of the council• Cannot assign her/his SSC responsibilities to a

vice principal or other designee• Has no administrative authority over the

council• May not veto a decision or change the

approved SPSA without council approval

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Member Roles and Responsibilities

• Officers and specific duties should be outlined in SSC bylaws

• Typically, SSC Officers include– Chairperson– Vice Chairperson– Secretary

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Member Roles and Responsibilities

The Chairperson usually• Facilitates SSC meetings• Works with principal to establish meeting

agendas• Provides leadership to SSC members on roles

and responsibilities• Has signatory responsibilities for official

documents

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Member Roles and Responsibilities

The Vice Chairperson usually• Facilitates meetings in absence of Chairperson• Provides leadership and support to members

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Member Roles and Responsibilities

The Secretary usually• Takes meeting notes/minutes• Provides leadership and support to members

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Specific SSC Responsibilities

• Analyze and evaluate school and student progress and achievement

• Obtain recommendations from advisory, standing and special committees regarding focus of SPSA

• Develop and approve SPSA in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations

• Recommend SPSA for approval by the local governing board

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Specific SSC Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing monitoring of implementation of SPSA and related expenditures

• Revise SPSA as needed• Participate in all local, state and federal

reviews of school’s program for compliance and quality

• Evaluate SPSA effectiveness on annual basis

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Specific SSC Responsibilities

• Encourage parents, community members, teachers and students, if applicable, to take on leadership roles and participate in SSC activities

• Carry out other duties assigned to SSC by the governing board, or required by state and/or federal law

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SSC Scope of Responsibilities

SSCs do NOT engage in:• School management• Supervision of staff• Policy making• Fundraising

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SSC Scope of Responsibilities

SSCs are NOT:• Political organizations• Personnel Committees• Grievance Committees• Extension of the PTAs• Social Group

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Effective SSCs…

• Focus on increasing student achievement• Maintain a high degree of collaboration• Provide opportunities for shared leadership• Demonstrate good problem solving skills

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Effective SSCs…

• Allow members and the public to freely express opinions and points of view

• Recognize and respect the individuality and creativity of each member

• Are prepared with materials and good ideas• Communicate progress with the school

community

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Effective SSCs…

• Seek information and input from the school community

• Encourage the use of good listening skills• Utilize procedures to ensure efficient use of

meeting time• Follow a process to make decisions as well as to

resolve disagreements

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Resolving Disagreements

• Resolve disagreement at the site level• Request clarification from district office staff• Request support from district office staff• Request (in writing) assistance from the

governing board• File a Uniform Complaint

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Public Meeting Guidelines

• Meeting notice (agenda) must be posted 72 hours in advance, specifying– Date– Time– Place

• Meetings must be open to the public• Public may address the council during public

comment, but cannot voteCalifornia Education Code 35147

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Taking Action

• SSC may act only on items included on posted agenda– Exception: SSC may add item, by unanimous vote,

to agenda for action• Questions or requests for clarification do not

need to be on posted agenda • Violations require reconsideration of item at

next meeting after allowing for public commentCalifornia Education Code 35147

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SJUSD Recommendations for all Schools

Annually, each SSC must retain:• SSC Roster– Members– Officers– District Advisory Committee (DAC) representative

and alternate (Only from Title I Elementary Schools)

• Meeting Schedule

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SJUSD Recommendations for all Schools

Each school need to retain documentation of:• Meeting Agendas• Meeting Notes/Minutes• Sign-In sheets

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SSC Support

Upon request, Office of Student Learning Assistance staff will provide

• On-site assistance with– Meeting procedures– SPSA development

• Site-specific information and guidance about– State and Federal funds– Programs

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Have SSC Questions? Need Support?

Roxanne Mitchell, Director of Student Learning AssistanceWanda Shironaka, Program Manager of Title I

Office Student Learning AssistanceWanda.shironaka@sanjuan.eduRoxanne.mitchell@sanjuan.edu

Office phone: 979-8049

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Additional SSC Resources

For Additional Information go to: www.cde.ca.gov • Type “School Site Council” in the Search box• Click Search• Select School Site Council.