What Is the North Region SELPA Community Advisory Committee (CAC)?

North Region SELPA Community Advisory �Committee (CAC)

• Established to create a forum to engage families/caregivers and local community involvement in the provision of special education within the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)
• The North Region SELPA is comprised of five school districts: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville and Piedmont
• In accordance with North Region SELPA Policy No. 1100, the CAC advises the SELPA on the development, review and implementation of the SELPA Local Plan
• California State Education Code mandates that every SELPA have a Community Advisory Committee and that the majority of CAC members be parents/caregivers
• Our Mission:
• Enhance the education for all students with disabilities.
• Increase understanding of Special Education issues.
• Build the advocacy skills of our family/caregiver community through education and support.

​

CAC Advocacy In Action

• Written letters to State Assembly members and Senators to support legislative bills that support students with disabilities
• Ex: AB 1121- Requiring that evidence-based reading instruction practices are built into professional development and instructional materials
• Hosted several educational events and webinars that have formed our resource library
• Screening of the documentary film “The Truth About Reading”, followed by a riveting panel discussion with several educators and advocates
• For the last four years, the CAC has organized and hosted a literacy Roundtable bringing together district superintendents from across our SELPA to discuss literacy programming and student progress data
• Panel discussion on inclusive post-secondary education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, featuring the UC Davis Redwood SEED program and CSU’s Think By The Bay
• Follow-up panel discussion on post-secondary transition planning to help families prepare for the transition from high-school and provide knowledge of the types of programs and services that are available

CAC Advocacy In Action - Resources

CAC Committee Member�Responsibilities

The CAC has 4 main sub-committees:

Education | Advocacy | Membership & Engagement | Communications

​

• Sub-committee members are expected to attend all sub-committee meetings and actively support the agreed-upon goals and activities of that sub-committee
• Each CAC Monthly Business Meeting agenda holds space for sub-committees to report on activities, and bring decisions that need to be made that require a committee vote
• Any Member of the CAC or member of the general public may participate on all sub-committees 

CAC Voting Members�Meeting Schedule

• Monthly meetings are currently held on the 3^rd Monday of each month from 6:00-7:00 pm
• Some meetings are just CAC business meetings, other meetings may also feature a programming component
• Programming may also be scheduled separately, not necessarily on the 3^rd Monday of each month
• Executive subcommittee meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month. This meeting is for CAC Officers. The primary purpose is to the create the agenda for the monthly business meeting
• Subcommittee meetings are held once per month (unless otherwise discussed within the subcommittee) and schedule based on the schedules and agreement of sub-committee members

CAC Voting Members�Membership Terms

• The members of the community advisory committee are appointed by, and responsible to, the governing board of each participating district

​

• Membership in the CAC as a whole is comprised of at least two, and no more than three voting representatives from each district in the SELPA

​

• Term of membership: Two years (from January until the January two years later) �

Current Officers and Voting Members:

​

Caroline Brossard – Chair – Alameda

Jill Hunter – Secretary – Alameda

Jolene Gazmen – Second Vice Chair/�Director of Membership – Albany

Monika Russi – Alameda

Dinesh Kumar – Albany

Eliza Noh – Berkeley

Sarah Hauser – Piedmont

​

*We currently have no voting members from � Emery Unified School District

CAC Subcommittees�Priorities for 2026-27 School Year

Advocacy/Education

• Continuation of literacy series; monitoring legislative action
• Increase membership on CAC by at least one voting member in two districts
• Increase CAC meeting attendance
• Increase attendance and information sharing from district SpEd leadership�
• Parent/Caregiver Education Topics (pending committee vote):
• Assistive Technology
• Transition IEP to High School - Alternative High School Diploma Pathway - Preparing for Post-Secondary Transition

​

We Need YOU!

• It’s no accident that CAC begins with “Community”. It takes an active community to be successful
• You don’t have to be a voting member to serve on a subcommittee (Education, Advocacy, Membership & Engagement and Communications) we could really use your time and talent!

Membership Application (to become a voting member): https://forms.gle/4NmTAg4LvDp7xK7n6

​

Thank You!

Appendix

CAC Voting Members�Expectations

• Voting Members are expected to attend all CAC business meetings. Failure of a member to attend two consecutive meetings, or three in one calendar year, without a valid excuse, is grounds for termination from CAC membership
• Voting Members are expected be an active participant in at least one committee - Education | Advocacy |Membership & Engagement | Communications
• Voting Members are encouraged, but not required, to attend school board meetings where special education is discussed and the CAC has an identified position
• Voting Members should communicate with and solicit feedback from their districts’ Special Education groups and other interested affinity groups about the implementation of Special Education in the district and the activities of the CAC

​

CAC Executive Committee Member�Responsibilities

Chairperson (or Co-Chairpersons): 

• Runs the CAC meetings according to Education Code 56194 and/or Roberts Rules of Order   
• Serves as the point person for collaborating with the SELPA Director and as committee spokesperson to the North Region SELPA 

First Vice-Chair/Director of Education (currently vacant): 

• Assists the Chairperson(s) and assume those responsibilities in the absence of the Chairperson(s) and serves on the Education Committee

Second Vice-Chairperson/Director of Membership:

• Serves on the Membership and Engagement Committee, which is responsible for outreach and facilitating the application process to fill open membership seats

Secretary/Director of Communications:

• Oversees our monthly agenda. Maintains all meeting recordings (we use Zoom transcript and it does all of the work), correspondences, and lists of members 
• Oversees marketing strategy for CAC meetings and ensures community accessibility with the SELPA