•  English Learner Advisory Committee
     
    Comité consultivo para aprendices de inglés
     
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    ELAC is a meeting place where parents can use as a platform to express their concerns and ideas to both the school and the district, to inform the decisions of the School Site Council.  The ELAC meets 6-8 times a year at 1:00 p.m. usually in room 14, but we  will meet virtually untill further notice. 

    ELAC es un lugar de reunión donde los padres pueden usar como plataforma para expresar sus preocupaciones e ideas tanto a la escuela como al distrito, para informar las decisiones del Consejo del Plantel Escolar. El ELAC se reúne de 6 a 8 veces al año a la 1:00 p.m. generalmente en la habitación 14, pero nos reuniremos virtualmente hasta nuevo aviso.

    Children benefit by ELAC as their parents' concerns are voiced to the School Site Council, resulting in an impact on decisions at both the school level and the district level. They will see the change in their parents, as the parents are empowered by the trainings they will receive, and as they develop the ability to speak out for their families. 

    Los niños se benefician de ELAC ya que las preocupaciones de sus padres se expresan al Consejo del Plantel Escolar, lo que tiene como resultado un impacto en las decisiones tanto a nivel escolar como distrital. Verán el cambio en sus padres, a medida que los padres se sientan empoderados por las capacitaciones que recibirán y a medida que desarrollen la capacidad de hablar por sus familias.

    ELAC offers workshops that cover broad areas, such as legal issues involved in working with English Language Learner students, trainings in reading and homework techniques that can immediately help their children and trainings in dealing with different family situations. ELAC provides parents with a forum to express their thoughts and concerns about their children's education at the site and district level. Parents have more expertise about their children's education than they realize.

     ELAC ofrece talleres que cubren áreas amplias, como cuestiones legales relacionadas con el trabajo con estudiantes que aprenden inglés, capacitaciones en técnicas de lectura y tareas que pueden ayudar de inmediato a sus hijos y capacitaciones para lidiar con diferentes situaciones familiares. ELAC ofrece a los padres un foro para expresar sus pensamientos e inquietudes sobre la educación de sus hijos a nivel del sitio y del distrito. Los padres tienen más experiencia sobre la educación de sus hijos de lo que creen.

     
     

    Formation

    Each California Public School from Kindergarten through grade 12, with 21 or more English learners must form a functional English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). The ELAC is a committee for parents or other community members who want to advocate for English Learners.

     

    Major Function
    The purpose of the ELAC (or subcommittee, if appropriate) is to advise the principal and school staff on programs and services for English learners and the SSC on the development of the Single School Plan for Student Achievement. The ELAC also assists the school on other tasks listed below:

    Task

    The committee advises and assists the school principal, staff and School Site Council (SSC) as follows:
    1. The school’s program for English learners.
    2. The development of the Single School Plan for Student Achievement.(BSC/SPSA)
    3. The school’s needs assessment.
    4. The school’s annual language census (R-30 LC Report).
    5. Efforts to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.

    Composition Requirements

    The percentage of parents of English learners on the committee must be at least the same as that of English learners at the school.

    Elections

    Requirements for ELAC elections include:

    1. Parents/guardians of English learners elect parent members of the school committee.
    2. The parents/guardians are provided the opportunity to vote for committee members.
    3. Each school committee shall have the opportunity to elect at least one member to the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC). 

    Training

    The district shall provide for all ELAC members:

    1. Appropriate training and materials to assist each member to carry out his or her legally required advisory responsibilities.
    2. Training planned in full consultation with ELAC members. ElA-LEP and/or district funds may be used to cover the costs of training and attendance of ELAC members (e.g., costs associated with childcare, translation services, meals, and other reasonable expenses).

    Legal References

    20 USC 6312[g][4]; E.C. Sections: 62002.5; 35147; 52176 and 52168; and Title 5. CCR, Section 11308

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which schools are required to have an elected English Learner Advisory Committee?

    Each school with 21 or more students of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in attendance, regardless of language, must form a functioning English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).

    What is the role of the ELAC?

    The role of the ELAC is to advise the principal and School Site Council on programs and services for English learners. The ELAC acts in an advisory capacity. It is not a decision making body, but it is the voice of the English learner community. Specifically the ELAC:

    • Advises on the development of services for English learners in the Balanced ScoreCard/Single Plan for Student Achievement (BSC/SPSA). 
    • Assists in the development of the school’s needs assessment and efforts to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.
    • Has representation on District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC).

    What is the composition of the ELAC?

    The ELAC membership must include parents of English learners (ELs), but may also include other duly elected family & community members. The percentage of parents of ELs who are elected must be at least equal to the percentage of English learners at the school site. For example, if 50% of the students at a given site are English learners, at least 50% of the membership of the ELAC must be parents of ELs. The remaining 50% of the committee members can be the principal, community members, teachers of participating students, instructional aides, parent liaisons, other parents and staff.

    How are members elected to the ELAC?

    Only parents of English Learners may vote for members of the ELAC. 

    When should ELAC elections take place? What is the term of office?

    ELAC elections take place on even years. ELAC elections must be completed in the fall at the same time as School Site Council elections. The term of office is two years. If there are vacancies, schools may conduct elections at any time, or refer to the ELAC by-laws as how to fill the vacancies.

    Can elections be organized so that ELAC members’ terms of office are staggered?

    Yes, this would provide for continuity and schools are encouraged to do this. As new members are elected to the committee, “experienced” members would serve as models. The committee could continue its important work without the interruption of beginning anew every two years.

    Must we elect an ELAC if there are parents of English Learners on the School Site Council?

    Yes, you must have an ELAC.

    Can the ELAC delegate their responsibilities to the SSC?

    After the ELAC has been trained on their responsibilities as a committee, it may relinquish their responsibilities of all tasks required, to the SSC for up to two years (EC 52870). In order to relinquish their responsibilities to the SSC, the members of the ELAC would have to vote to do so. Once this action is taken, then accepted and recorded in the minutes by the SSC, the SSC functions as the ELAC for all purposes required by law or regulations. 

    What is Supplemental and Concentration Grant - English Learners (SCG-EL)?

    Supplemental and Concentration Grant for English Learners is a portion of the state's Local Control Funding Formula. These supplemental funds are used kindergarten through grade twelve to support additional educational programs for English Learners. The purpose of these funds is to improve students' academic achievement. The use of these funds at each school site is described in the site's academic plan (BSC/SPSA). Typical examples include the purchase of supplemental materials, services of instructional aides, and supplemental resource teachers.