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Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Building a system of great schools
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Timeline
Framework Implementation
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
What is A School Advisory Council?
School Advisory Council (or SAC) is an advisory body responsible for reviewing and approving school budget and school action plan and providing input into school-based policies and decisions.
Providing a forum for open discussion and problem-solving, SACs give all stakeholder groups (administrators, parents, students, staff, and the larger community) a real voice in school-based decision-making and the power to influence all aspects of the work of the school.
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Why Should We Want to Have School Advisory
Councils (SACs)?
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Why School Advisory Councils (SACs)?• Extensive research on Chicago Local School Councils (LSCs) has
shown that they play an important role in school improvement, including adoption of responsive pedagogy and creation of a positive climate.
• LSCs increase accountability and encourage low-income minority parents to become more involved.
• Principals view LSC selection of principals positively, and the majority of teachers see LSCs as helping to make schools better. Sources: Empowered Participation by Archon Fung, 2004; Charting the Course and other studies by the Consortium on Chicago School Research; The Big Picture by Design for Change, 2005.)
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Why School Advisory Councils (SACs)?
There are several fundamental beliefs that underline any successful parent involvement program:
1. Parents/caregivers want what is best for their children.2. Parents/caregivers, regardless of their background, income or
circumstances, can be key resources in their children's education.3. All children can learn, and the focus of the school faculty and
administration’s efforts needs to be on children’s success.4. Research has shown when families are engaged the child does
better, stays in school, graduates and is more likely to go to college.5. Together, teachers and principals, families, and communities can
succeed in educating children and preparing them to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives.
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Framework: Composition of SACs
Such as: Teacher, Counselor, and
paraprofessional
Such as: Teacher, Counselor, and
paraprofessionalSuch as: Community
Activist, Faith Leader, Business partners
Such as: Community Activist, Faith Leader,
Business partners
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Responsibilities of School Advisory Councils• Review and approve school Budget and school Action Plan • Provide input on discretionary spending• Review and approve school-based policies, including policies
governing school safety and discipline, truancy, extracurricular activities, ESL supports, and other
• Review and inform hiring/creation of new positions• Act as a catalyst to develop a culture of community support and
involvement in decision-making for school-based policy• Play an active role in supporting and promoting the programs and
initiatives they approved• Examine data on the effectiveness of school-based programs and
services and periodically review and revise Action Plan strategies and recommendations to ensure continued progress towards reaching school goals.
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Responsibilities of School Advisory Councils• Holding regular meetings• Creating a schedule of meetings for the year and making it available
to all stakeholders• Making sure an agenda for the following meeting is approved at the
end of each meeting and shared with designated school staff and the principal the following day
• Maintaining active, two-way communication with stakeholders• Holding at least 2 community meetings each year to get
information out to parents, students, and community members about what is going on at the school, and to getting their feedback
• Work with community partners, parents, and school staff to disseminate information on the work of the SAC and solicit input from stakeholders
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
SAC and Principal’s Joint Responsibilities:
• Creating a collaborative, inclusive, and transparent process to inform school-level decisions, including the adoption of the school Action Plan and Budget, and collaborating to address urgent school issues (e.g., truancy, bullying, improving student achievement)
• Fostering a cooperative and collaborative environment at the school
• Rallying parent, staff, student, and community support around school priorities
• Organizing and conducting SAC elections
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Responsibility to Support the Work of the SAC
• Assistance with parent and student recruitment• Assistance with disseminating information about the meetings as
well as the decisions and initiatives of the SAC• Providing space where SAC members can meet and work as needed• Providing access to equipment (computer, copier, etc.)• Informing SAC about funding, mandates, current metrics, problems,
and conditions at the school• Providing regular updates on the performance of current programs
and initiatives• Providing ongoing support and technical assistance• Supporting community meetings (opening the building after hours if
needed, providing space and personnel as needed)
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Difference Between SAC and Home and School
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
School Advisory Council Home and School Association
SAC is part of the school leadership structure.
HSA an independent organization affiliated with the school.
SAC represents all stakeholder groups at the school: principal, staff, students, parents and community partners. Voting members include principal, staff, students and parents.
Home and School Association represents parents of children attending the school. Voting members can only be parents.
The purpose of the SAC is input into school-based decision making.
The purpose of Home and School is fostering and strengthening parent engagement.
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Timeline:
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Task/Project Suggested Timeline
Recruitment September - December 2012
SAC Summit Saturday, November 3
Team building and training November 2012 - March 2013
First SAC Report January 2013
Functioning SAC at each school by March 22, 2013
Close-Out / Second Report June 2013
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Recruitment for the SAC
• Use multiple ways to disseminate information to parents and families (see next slide)
• Set up a nominating committee to help with elections.• Set up a meeting with parents to explain to them how SAC will
help your school become better. • Connect with your building committee to secure staff
participation• Don’t forget about the students? Decide whether you will have
school-wide election or allow elected student groups to appoint student members.
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Communicating the Creation of the SAC• Send home a letter or flyer inviting parents to participate on a
SAC together with a nomination form• Follow up with automated phone messages• Make flyers available around the school and at community
locations• Make sure support personnel understands the process and is
willing to assist parents with questions and application process• Take time to talk to parents personally• Give students incentives for sharing information with parents
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Resource Mapping
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Resource Mapping Example (Ben. Franklin H.S.)
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Communities of Faith
Rodeph Shalom CongregationEnon Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church
After School Programs
Nu Sigma (Ben. Franklin)Cozen PAL Center …
Police District
FOP – Federal Order of Police Administration
Building
Educ. Institutions
Community College of Philadelphia
Masterman SchoolWaring School
Parkway Center City H.S.Franklin Learning Center
Spring Garden Elementary
Parks and Recreation Facilities
Fairmount ParkCentral Library
Philadelphia Art MuseumFranklin Institute
Khmer Art Gallery
Health-Care Institutions
Hahnemann Hospital
Supermarkets, Pharmacies, Mom and Pop Stores, Businesses
SDP Administration BuildingSUBWAY, Brains Deli, City
View, Mike’s, Pizzeria , Multi Food Trucks, Our Place
Boutique, Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Channel CBS 3
Community-Based Organizations
Cadenza HouseFamily Shelter – 13th & Spring Garden
Support from the District:
• Ongoing professional development• Technical support and other support and assistance as
requested.
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
for additional information and to request assistance visit www.philasd.org/sac, e-mail sac@philasd.org
or call 215.400.4180
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
Questions?
The School District of PhiladelphiaOFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& FAITH-BASED PARTNERSHIPS
Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success
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