English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) �-Orientation Training-

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICES

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the requirements of ELAC
• Learn how to develop and support an effective ELAC
• Understand the role and responsibility of ELAC officers

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Advisory Councils and Committees under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)

Under the new Local Control Funding Formula, districts are required to continue to engage district and site-level advisory groups (DELAC, DAC & ELAC) in the planning and implementation of the LCAP, LEA and site-level planning activities, as most of these groups are required for federal program purposes.

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Reflection:

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Why am I an ELAC member?

Why ELAC?

• To support our English learners along their paths to lifelong learning and success.

ELAC Required Tasks

• Advising the principal and staff on programs and services for English learners
• Advising the School Site Council on the development of the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)

• ELAC assists the school in the development of:
• Needs Assessment
• Ways to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance

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http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/cr/elac.asp

ELAC is NOT:

• a school management committee
• a political organization
• a grievance committee
• a fund-raising organization
• a social group

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ELAC Compliance Monitoring

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• Composition Requirements
• Mandatory Information to Be Covered

Composition Requirements

“Each California public school, grades K-12, with 21 or more English learners must form an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)”.

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EC 62002.5;5 CCR 4312

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Composition Requirements (cont.)

• The percentage of parents of English learners on the committee must be at least the same as that of English learners at the school.
• Other members of the ELAC can be other parents/guardians, school staff, and/or community members as long as the minimum percentage requirement for EL parents is maintained.

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Composition Requirements (cont.)

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Let’s see an example:

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A school has a total of 600 students. There are 300 English learners. That means the percentage of English learners at the school is 50%.

Therefore, if you have:

• A 5-member committee, 3 out of those 5 must be parents of English learners
• A 7-member committee, 4 out of those 7 must be parents of English learners.

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Percentage of parents of English learners

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Percentage of English learners at the school

Composition Requirements (cont.)

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Let’s see another example:

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A school has a total of 750 students. There are 150 English learners. That means the percentage of English learners at the school is 20%.

Therefore, if you have:

• A 5-member committee, 1 out of those 5 must be parents of English learners
• A 7-member committee, 2 out of those 7 must be parents of English learners.

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�����Check for Understanding

Think-Pair-Share

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Question #1:

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How do we know an ELAC is appropriately formed?

Elections

• Parents/guardians of English learners must have an opportunity to elect the ELAC members.
• Each ELAC shall have the opportunity to elect at least one representative to the DELAC.

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Determine the percentage of English learners at the school and determine preliminary size of the committee.

Announce the opportunity to declare candidacy to the school community. Confirm eligibility and acceptance of declarations of candidacy.

Hold elections and announce results.

(Only parents of English learners can elect ELAC members/representatives)

Hold first ELAC meeting. Elect ELAC officers and a DELAC representative.

Train members of their roles and responsibilities and of ELAC legal requirements.

Hold at least four meetings during the school year to address the state mandated topics and other EL related items.

Election Process

������Check for Understanding

Think-Pair-Share

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Question #2:

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Who elects ELAC members?

ELAC Required Topics

Each school’s ELAC must cover 4 required topics annually:

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1. ELAC Legal Role and Responsibilities
2. The Importance of Regular School Attendance
3. A Schoolwide Needs Assessment
4. The Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)

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ELAC Required Topics (cont.)

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The importance of regular school attendance

• Excused Absences
• Unexcused Absences
• Parent Responsibility
• District Attendance Goal/School Attendance Percentage
• Link between Attendance and Funding

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ELAC Required Topics (cont.)

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Schoolwide Needs Assessment

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LCAP Goal 5: English learners will acquire the academic and linguistic skills needed to attain grade level proficiency and college/career readiness.

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ELAC Required Topics

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The Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)

• Its content must be aligned with the school’s goals for improving student achievement.
• It must align and be consistent with the district’s improvement plan (LCAP)
• It must be developed with the review and advice of any applicable school advisory committee

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Other Possible ELAC topics

• Tittle III Letters and Educational Programs
• Reclassification Procedures and Criteria
• Master Plan for English Learners
• Opportunities for Parent Involvement/Volunteering
• Testing (ELPAC, SBAC, District Benchmarks)
• High School Graduation Requirements
• University Requirements (A-G Courses)

������Check for Understanding

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Think-Pair-Share

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Question #3:

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What are the required topics that need to be addressed at ELAC meetings?

Roles and Responsibilities of ELAC Officers

• Perform the specific duties of your elected office
• Attend agenda planning meetings
• Vote on and present written recommendations to School Site Council (SSC)

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President’s Role and Responsibility

• Clearly communicates the purpose and work of the ELAC.
• Knows and enforces ELAC bylaws.
• Presides over meetings.
• Clears ambiguity and reduces conflict.
• Politely asks colleagues to refrain from sidebar conversations.
• Does not take sides; when taking a position or speaking on a matter.
• Clearly announces items on the agenda.
• Announces a motion’s results.

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Vice President’s Role and Responsibility

• Presides when the President:
• is absent
• steps down temporarily

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NOTE: The bylaws can identify the Vice-President as the successor of the President, should the position become vacant.

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Secretary’s Role and Responsibility

• Takes meeting minutes.
• Prepares the sign-in sheet.
• Maintains copies of all documentation.
• Brings relevant documents to the meeting.

Parliamentarian’s Role and Responsibility

• Assists the president in conducting the meetings in an orderly manner.
• Understands procedures and ELAC bylaws.

DELAC Representative’s Role and Responsibility

• Attends DELAC meetings regularly
• Submits the ELAC documentation to the DELAC president
• Share the DELAC documentation with the ELAC members

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Individual Member Rights

• Receive meeting notification and attend all meetings.
• Present and second motions.
• Speak on agenda items after first seeking recognition of president.
• Vote
• Right to be heard and to voice their dissent.
• Right to have their dissent noted in the record.

������Check for Understanding

Think-Pair-Share

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Question #4:

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Why is important for the DELAC representative to attend the DELAC meetings?

ELAC Documentation

AGENDAS

• Members develop the agendas.
• Each meeting’s agenda must be developed from three sources:
• ELAC members’ selected items
• School staff and district selected items
• State required items

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MINUTES

• Minutes must be taken in every meeting.
• School is responsible for providing interpreters at each meeting and translating minutes into languages represented.

Copies of agendas and minutes must be kept on file at school and sent to the EL department (make sure agendas and minutes indicate elections, training, and completion of required ELAC responsibilities).

ELAC Documentation

AGENDAS

Agendas must include:

• School name and committee name
• Meeting date, time and location
• Every item of business to be considered in the order to be presented
• Opportunity for public input/comments
• Next meeting date, time and location

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MINUTES

Minutes must include:

• School name and committee name
• Meeting date, time and location
• Attendance record
• Record of quorum being (or not) established
• Coincide with agenda items
• Detailed record of what was discussed and voted on (motions)
• Be revised for accuracy and approved at following meeting

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Notification Procedure

• Meetings must be open to the public and allow for public input.
• Meeting notice and agenda must be posted at least 72 hours before the meeting. Notice and agenda must include:
• Date
• Time
• Location
• Items to be discussed or acted upon
• Notice and agenda must be posted at the school site or other appropriate place accessible to the public.
• Action cannot be taken on items not posted on agenda, UNLESS a unanimous vote finds a need for immediate action.
• The public must be provided access to all materials discussed and/or distributed at the meeting.

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-California ED Code/Section 35147-(SB 355 Greene Act)

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Bylaws

Some items to be included are:

• Membership Composition
• Election Procedures
• Role and Responsibilities of Officers and Members
• Number of Meetings
• Parliamentary Procedures
• Dissemination of Information
• Parent Education/Training
• Amendments

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Parliamentary Procedures – Robert’s Rule of Order

1. Right of majority to make decisions

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• Right of minority to be heard

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• Rights of individual committee members to participate

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Characteristics of an Effective ELAC

1. Understands its purpose and functions.
2. Plans ahead.
3. Establishes a meeting calendar and meets on a regular basis.
4. Follows norms/code of conduct.
5. Communicates with principal, staff, SSC, and school community.
6. Develops bylaws, agendas, and minutes.
7. Conducts meetings that include DELAC information.

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Relationship Among Committees

• DELAC representatives serve as links between school and district.
• It is recommended that the School Site Council (SSC) include representation by parents of English learners.
• The SSC is required to seek input from ELAC about programs and services for English learners.
• The school facilitates interaction or communications among committees.

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������Check for Understanding

Think-Pair-Share

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Question #5:

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Share out two things that you have learned today about ELAC.

Questions