Outline of the state of California
State
California
Required

Category
Family Engagement in Local Governance

Category
Family Engagement in Local Governance

State law requires parent or family member representation on school governance councils or in school improvement planning efforts.

California Education Code 11503 Programs to Encourage Parental Involvement

The governing board of each school district and county office of education shall establish a written parent and family engagement program for each school in the district that receives funds under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95). That program shall contain at least the following elements: (b) Procedures to involve parents and family members in developing the Local Educational Agency Plan and school support and improvement plans under Section 6312 of Title 20 of the United States Code.

Policy Type
Statute

California Education Code 33133. Information relating to involvement by parents and guardians in schoolsite councils

(a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall develop information, and submit this information to the State Board of Education for its approval. This information shall be for distribution to school districts and, to the extent feasible, for posting on the State Department of Education Internet website, to strengthen and promote the opportunity for quality involvement by parents and guardians in schoolsite councils whose composition meets the requirements of Section 52012. In developing the information, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may use documents currently available from nonprofit organizations, such as Ed Source and the California Parent Teacher Association, or state and local government agencies. (b) The information shall be provided to each school district and county office of education and may be made available for parents and guardians who are members of schoolsite councils whose composition meets the requirements of Section 52012 and shall cover at least the following topics:

  • (1) Operation of schoolsite advisory bodies, including bylaws, group responsibilities, and roles.
  • (2) Public meeting notice requirements.
  • (3) Information about the total budget of a school district and how funds are distributed to schoolsite advisory bodies, including, but not limited to, the amount of funds distributed to schoolsites.
  • (4) Information about the school district and state Standard of expected pupil achievement in core academic subjects for each grade level.
  • (5) Instruction on how to interpret data from the pupil performance measures selected by the school district.
  • (6) A definition of “significant gains made by pupils” toward meeting the Standard of expected pupil achievement.
  • (7) Research–based information about curriculum and teaching strategies that will improve pupil performance.
  • (8) The right to information under the Public Records Act set forth in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
  • (9) Information regarding the educational and training needs for pupils, as identified and expressed by local employers, former pupils of the school district, and postsecondary education institutions. (c) In addition to the composition set forth in Section 52012, a schoolsite council at the middle school level may, but is not required to, include pupil representation.
Policy Type
Statute

California Education Code 51101. Rights of parents and guardians of pupils; School–parent compact

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in public schools have the right and should have the opportunity, as mutually supportive and respectful partners in the education of their children within the public schools, to be informed by the school, and to participate in the education of their children, as follows: (14) To participate as a member of a parent advisory committee, schoolsite council, or site–based management leadership team, in accordance with any rules and regulations governing membership in these organizations. In order to facilitate parental participation, schoolsite councils are encouraged to schedule a biannual open forum for the purpose of informing parents about current school issues and activities and answering parents’ questions. The meetings should be scheduled on weekends, and prior notice should be provided to parents.

Policy Type
Statute

California Education Code 52063. Parent advisory committee; English learner parent advisory committee

(a) (1) The governing board of a school district shall establish a parent advisory committee to provide advice to the governing board of the school district and the superintendent of the school district regarding the requirements of this article. (2) A parent advisory committee shall include parents or legal guardians of pupils to whom one or more of the definitions in Section 42238.01 apply. (3) This subdivision shall not require the governing board of the school district to establish a new parent advisory committee if the governing board of the school district already has established a parent advisory committee that meets the requirements of this subdivision, including any committee established to meet the requirements of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95), pursuant to Section 1116 of Subpart 1 of Part A of Title I of that act.

Policy Type
Statute

California Education Code 52069. Parent advisory committee; English learner parent advisory committee

(a) (1) A county superintendent of schools shall establish a parent advisory committee to provide advice to the county board of education and the county superintendent of schools regarding the requirements of this article. (2) A parent advisory committee shall include parents or legal guardians of pupils to whom one or more of the definitions in Section 42238.01 apply. (3) This subdivision shall not require the county superintendent of schools to establish a new parent advisory committee if the county superintendent of schools already has established a parent advisory committee that meets the requirements of this subdivision, including any committee established to meet the requirements of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) pursuant to Section 6312 of that act.

Policy Type
Statute

California Education Code 62002.5. Continuance of parent advisory committees and school site councils subsequent to termination of program funding

Parent advisory committees and school site councils which are in existence pursuant to statutes or regulations as of January 1, 1979, shall continue subsequent to the termination of funding for the programs sunsetted by this chapter. Any school receiving funds from Economic Impact Aid or Bilingual Education Aid subsequent to the sunsetting of these programs as provided in this chapter, shall establish a school site council in conformance with the requirements in Section 52012. The functions and responsibilities of such advisory committees and school site councils shall continue as prescribed by the appropriate law or regulation in effect as of January 1, 1979.

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Statute

California Education Code 65000. Legislative intent; Creation and composition of schoolsite councils

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, to the extent possible, the members of the schoolsite council represent the composition of the school’s pupil population. It is also the intent of the Legislature that, notwithstanding the size of the school, the composition of the schoolsite council ensure parity between the groups referenced in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (c). (b) A school that operates a program that requires a School Plan for Student Achievement, pursuant to Section 64001, shall establish a schoolsite council. (c)

  • (1) At an elementary school, the schoolsite council shall consist of both of the following groups:
    • (A) The principal of the school or his or her designee; classroom teachers employed at the school, selected by classroom teachers employed at the school; and school personnel employed at the school who are not teachers, selected by school personnel employed at the school who are not teachers. The classroom teachers selected pursuant to this subparagraph shall constitute a majority of the persons selected pursuant to this subparagraph.
    • (B) Parents of pupils attending the school, or other members of the school community, selected by parents of pupils attending the school. The number of persons selected pursuant to this subparagraph shall equal the number of persons selected pursuant to subparagraph (A).
  • (2) At a secondary school, the schoolsite council shall consist of both of the following groups:
    • (A) The principal of the school or his or her designee; classroom teachers employed at the school, selected by classroom teachers employed at the school; and school personnel employed at the school who are not teachers, selected by school personnel employed at the school who are not teachers. The classroom teachers selected pursuant to this subparagraph shall constitute a majority of the persons selected pursuant to this subparagraph.
    • (B) Parents of pupils attending the school, or other members of the school community, selected by parents of pupils attending the school; and pupils attending the school, selected by pupils who are attending the school. The number of persons selected pursuant to this subparagraph shall equal the number of persons selected pursuant to subparagraph (A).
Policy Type
Statute