EL Master Plan: Chapter 5

In order to provide an integrated experience for families across multiple programs, there are four avenues for participation that SLUSD offers: 

• Volunteer opportunities 
• Community events
• Family Learning Workshops and Parent Facilitator engagement sessions
• Advisory Committees

Volunteer Opportunities

School sites across the district welcome families to volunteer in classrooms, at school-wide activities and district level events. To volunteer, families can contact the parent facilitator or site administrator to get information about procedures and requirements. 

Community Events

The languages and cultures English learners and their families bring to our schools are important contributions to our learning communities. Sites host social and cultural events, including carnivals, family nights, awards, holiday events, and heritage celebrations. The district encourages participation in city and community events that celebrate and showcase the diversity of our San Leandro community.  

Family Learning Workshops and Engagement Sessions

As an educational institution, SLUSD believes in lifelong learning and capacity building. In addition to staff, this includes our families and educational partners. There are multiple opportunities for families to engage in continuous learning and pathways for developing parent leaders at sites and at the district level.

Some of the offerings include workshops that support parents in understanding and navigating the school system and leadership series that focus on effective advocacy.  Learning series are offered at school sites and the district level on many topics including, but not limited to: affinity groups, technology, safety, policy, parenting, etc. The goal is to strengthen EL parent leadership capacity in order to ensure that EL families have a strong voice in district programs and policies.

In addition, San Leandro High School has College and Career programs and events supported by the district and site staff. Counselors, College and Career coordinators, and parent facilitators support families and students navigate through A-G requirements, course selections, internships, work-based learning, and other community programs. These staff members ensure that newcomers are welcomed into the school community and know what opportunities exist for English learner success at the secondary level.

Parent Advisory Committees (SSC, ELAC, DELAC)

Meaningful participation at an advisory level is a critical component of our students’ education. As part of the district’s effort to systematically involve families of ELs in the education of their children, the district establishes policies and procedures for School Site Councils (SSC), English Language Advisory Committees (ELAC) at the school-site level, and the district ELAC (DELAC) at the district level. At each committee level, families of ELs have opportunities to be involved in their child’s education, collaborate with district staff, receive training, evaluate instructional services and provide recommendations.

School Site Council (SSC)

The responsibility of the SSC involves oversight of programs supporting all students, including ELs. In collaboration with the site administrator, the SSC reviews and approves the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), which includes funded programs and allocation of resources to the site. Membership includes site administrators, teachers, other school staff, families, and community members. All families are welcome to attend SSC meetings.

English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)

According to the California Education Code, each school with twenty-one (21) or more ELs must establish a functioning ELAC. The ELAC is an advisory committee whose purpose is to provide input and advice to the site administration. ELACs are not decision-making councils, nor do they approve expenditures from any funding source. However, they do provide input and advice on school decisions and the use of funding sources dedicated to ELs.  

The ELAC is responsible for the following tasks:

• Advising the site administrator in the development of a site plan for English Learners and submitting the plan to the SSC for consideration of inclusion in the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).
• Assisting in the development of a schoolwide needs assessment.
• Discussing ways to make parents aware of the importance of school attendance.
• Electing a member to the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC).

ELAC Membership Guidelines:

• ELAC Membership will include parents and school staff. There must be more parents than staff members on the committee.
• The minimum percentage of EL parents on the ELAC is fifty-one (51) percent. However, if the percentage of EL students at a school is greater than 51 percent, the percentage of EL parents on the ELAC must match or exceed the percentage of the school’s total EL population.
• Members of the ELAC are elected parents or guardians of ELs or of Reclassified students who are within the 4 years of monitoring. 
• School staff representatives are selected by the staff, and parent members are elected by parents/guardians of ELs.

Guidelines for Implementation of the ELAC

A detailed description of the procedures for establishing an ELAC is outlined in the SLUSD ELAC Handbook that is distributed annually to site administrators.

• The principal (or designee) is responsible for establishing the ELAC and for ensuring that the ELAC meets at least quarterly. 
• The principal (or designee) will meet with the ELAC president to plan the agenda before each ELAC meeting and assist the ELAC president in running the meetings.
• Meeting dates will be determined and publicized in advance. Parents should receive at least 72 hours’ advance notice of ELAC meetings.
• ELAC meetings will be conducted with agendas and minutes.
• The ELAC will adopt bylaws that accommodate the unique features and needs of the school.
• Each site will provide interpretation and childcare for the meetings.
• The principal (or designee) will maintain all ELAC records (calendar, flyers/announcements, agendas, minutes, sign-in sheets) at their site.
• ELAC members will be provided with appropriate training, materials, and information to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities.
• The district will hold schools accountable and ensure compliance with these procedures and related legal mandates, policies, and guidelines.

Delegation of ELAC Authority

Each school’s ELAC may delegate its authority to an established School Site Council (SSC), provided that the ELAC has first been duly constituted, trained on the mandated requirements, duly informed of the right to delegate these requirements, and have voted to delegate its authority to the SSC. Delegation of authority may not exceed two years.

For ELAC to delegate its authority to SSC, the following questions must all be answered in the affirmative:

• Is the school’s EL population less than 50% (elementary) or 25% (secondary)?
• Has ELAC been duly constituted?
• Has ELAC been fully informed of the option to delegate its authority at a regularly scheduled meeting?
• Is ELAC informed of and trained on their legal responsibilities before a vote to delegate takes place?
• Has ELAC unanimously voted to delegate its authority to SSC at a regularly scheduled meeting and recorded this decision in the ELAC meeting minutes?
• Has SSC been informed of all ELAC legal responsibilities at a regularly scheduled SSC meeting?
• Did the SSC vote to accept all ELAC responsibilities at a regularly scheduled SSC meeting and recorded this decision in the SSC meeting minutes?
• Did the school obtain written approval from the Assistant Superintendent or designee?

If the decision has been approved to delegate authority, the ELAC subcommittee must provide advice to SSC on the EL programs and services, and specifically on reclassification, SPSA, the school needs assessment, the importance of school attendance, and categorical budgets, including Title III and Title I.