Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success Building a system of great schools The School District of Philadelphia OFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY,

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


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.




Why Should We Want to Have School Advisory

Councils (SACs)?




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.)




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.




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




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.




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




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




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)




Difference Between SAC and Home and School



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.


Timeline:



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


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.




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




Resource Mapping




Resource Mapping Example (Ben. Franklin H.S.)




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.



for additional information and to request assistance visit www.philasd.org/sac, e-mail [email protected]

or call 215.400.4180


http://www.philasd.org/sac

mailto:[email protected]

Questions?




Documents

Parents and Schools Working Together for Student Success Building a system of great schools The School District of Philadelphia OFFICE OF PARENT, FAMILY,