School Site Council (SSC)
Essentials in brief
An overview of SSC
roles and responsibilities
Prepared and Presented by
Wanda Chang Shironaka
San Juan Unified School District
Adapted from SCUSD State and Federal Programs
Wanda Shironaka
Workshop Overview
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Legislative Intent
General function of SSCs
SSC Responsibilities
SSC Composition
Member Roles and Responsibilities
SJUSD Requirements
SSC Support
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SSC Legislative Intent
Key principles:
• Education is a joint effort
• Key stakeholders should have input
• Use of supplemental resources should focus
on increasing student achievement
• Funds should be used cohesively and
according to legislative purpose (Plan)
• Monitoring of results (data)
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General Function
To serve as the school community’s
representative body for determining the focus
of the school’s academic instructional program
and all related state and federal resources.
California Education Code 52852
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SSC Responsibility
Participate in the development of the Single
Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), and
evaluate the effectiveness of programs by
monitoring the use of Title I and other
supplemental funding available to the school
site.
California Education Code 64001
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SSC Composition
At the elementary level the council shall be
constituted to ensure parity between (a) the
principal, classroom teachers and other school
personnel; and (b) parents or other community
members selected by parents.
At both the elementary and secondary levels,
classroom teachers shall comprise the majority
of persons represented under category (a).
--California Education Code §52852
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Elementary Composition
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Parent or community membership is equal to school staff membership.
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Classroom teachers must be in the majority of the staff side.
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“Other School Personnel” includes: other administrative positions, other nonclassroom teacher positions, and all site classified personnel.
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Smallest council is composed of 10 members.
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Middle schools may use the elementary composition.
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Elementary Council Sizes
COUNCIL
SIZE
PARENTS or
COMMUNITY
MEMBERS
PRINCIPAL
OTHER
SCHOOL
PERSONNEL
CLASSROOM
TEACHERS
12
6
1
1
4
14
7
1
1
5
14
7
1
2
4
16
8
1
2
5
16
8
1
1
6
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Secondary Composition
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Middle and High Schools:
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Middle schools may use the elementary composition
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Parent or community membership is equal to school staff membership.
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Classroom teachers must be in the majority of the staff side.
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“Other School Personnel” includes: other administrative positions, other nonclassroom teacher positions, and all site classified personnel.
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Student Members
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Smallest council is composed of 12 members.
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Secondary Council Sizes
COUNCIL
SIZE
PARENTS or
COMMUNITY
MEMBERS
Student
Members
PRINCIPAL
OTHER
SCHOOL
PERSONNEL
CLASSROOM
TEACHERS
12
3
3
1
1
4
16
4
4
1
2
5
16
4
4
1
1
6
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Member Roles and Responsibilities
SSC members should
• Regularly attend SSC meetings
• Become knowledgeable about educational issues
related to curriculum, instruction and assessment
• Review meeting and operating procedures
• Develop annual meeting calendar
• Represent their constituents in support of
increased student achievement
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Member Roles and Responsibilities
The Principal
• Is an active member of the council
• Cannot assign her/his SSC responsibilities to a
vice principal or other designee
• Has no administrative authority over the
council
• May not veto a decision or change the
approved SPSA without council approval
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Member Roles and Responsibilities
• Officers and specific duties should be outlined
in SSC bylaws
• Typically, SSC Officers include
– Chairperson
– Vice Chairperson
– Secretary
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Member Roles and Responsibilities
The Chairperson usually
• Facilitates SSC meetings
• Works with principal to establish meeting
agendas
• Provides leadership to SSC members on roles
and responsibilities
• Has signatory responsibilities for official
documents
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Member Roles and Responsibilities
The Vice Chairperson usually
• Facilitates meetings in absence of Chairperson
• Provides leadership and support to members
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Member Roles and Responsibilities
The Secretary usually
• Takes meeting notes/minutes
• Provides leadership and support to members
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Specific SSC Responsibilities
• Analyze and evaluate school and student
progress and achievement
• Obtain recommendations from advisory,
standing and special committees regarding
focus of SPSA
• Develop and approve SPSA in accordance with
state and federal laws and regulations
• Recommend SPSA for approval by the local
governing board
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Specific SSC Responsibilities
• Provide ongoing monitoring of
implementation of SPSA and related
expenditures
• Revise SPSA as needed
• Participate in all local, state and federal
reviews of school’s program for compliance
and quality
• Evaluate SPSA effectiveness on annual basis
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Specific SSC Responsibilities
• Encourage parents, community members,
teachers and students, if applicable, to take on
leadership roles and participate in SSC
activities
• Carry out other duties assigned to SSC by the
governing board, or required by state and/or
federal law
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SSC Scope of Responsibilities
SSCs do NOT engage in:
• School management
• Supervision of staff
• Policy making
• Fundraising
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SSC Scope of Responsibilities
SSCs are NOT:
• Political organizations
• Personnel Committees
• Grievance Committees
• Extension of the PTAs
• Social Group
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Effective SSCs…
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Focus on increasing student achievement
Maintain a high degree of collaboration
Provide opportunities for shared leadership
Demonstrate good problem solving skills
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Effective SSCs…
• Allow members and the public to freely express
opinions and points of view
• Recognize and respect the individuality and
creativity of each member
• Are prepared with materials and good ideas
• Communicate progress with the school
community
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Effective SSCs…
• Seek information and input from the school
community
• Encourage the use of good listening skills
• Utilize procedures to ensure efficient use of
meeting time
• Follow a process to make decisions as well as to
resolve disagreements
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Resolving Disagreements
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Resolve disagreement at the site level
Request clarification from district office staff
Request support from district office staff
Request (in writing) assistance from the
governing board
• File a Uniform Complaint
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Public Meeting Guidelines
• Meeting notice (agenda) must be posted 72
hours in advance, specifying
– Date
– Time
– Place
• Meetings must be open to the public
• Public may address the council during public
comment, but cannot vote
California Education Code 35147
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Taking Action
• SSC may act only on items included on posted
agenda
– Exception: SSC may add item, by unanimous vote, to
agenda for action
• Questions or requests for clarification do not
need to be on posted agenda
• Violations require reconsideration of item at next
meeting after allowing for public comment
California Education Code 35147
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SJUSD Recommendations for all
Schools
Annually, each SSC must retain:
• SSC Roster
– Members
– Officers
– District Advisory Committee (DAC) representative
and alternate (Only from Title I Elementary
Schools)
• Meeting Schedule
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SJUSD Recommendations for all
Schools
Each school need to retain documentation of:
• Meeting Agendas
• Meeting Notes/Minutes
• Sign-In sheets
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SSC Support
Upon request, Office of Student Learning
Assistance staff will provide
• On-site assistance with
– Meeting procedures
– SPSA development
• Site-specific information and guidance about
– State and Federal funds
– Programs
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Have SSC Questions? Need Support?
Roxanne Mitchell, Director of Student Learning Assistance
Wanda Shironaka, Program Manager of Title I
Office Student Learning Assistance
Wanda.shironaka@sanjuan.edu
Roxanne.mitchell@sanjuan.edu
Office phone: 979-8049
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Additional SSC Resources
For Additional Information go to: www.cde.ca.gov
• Type “School Site Council” in the Search box
• Click Search
• Select School Site Council.
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