James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

Jonathan Sez
Education News & Comment
Sacramento Issues
Parent Rights under NCLB
Future School Closures
School Closures 2009
ED Facts & Reports
What is a School Site Council
SPSA Single Plan for Student Achievement
Your School's SPSA
How is your SSC doing?
Fresno Unified SPSA Plan
Padres/父母/Родители/Parents
School Accountablity
About SAC City DAC
Our Schools
SSC Self Assessment
 
DIRECTIONS
Please complete this assessment with your current School Site Council. The assessment can be instructional when done as a team activity as it facilitates conversation between team members about both the scope of the SSC and the different perceptions about how an SSC is currently functioning.
 
 It helps to follow these steps:
1. Review the practices in each category. Take the time at an SSC meeting to allow people to ask questions and to create a shared understanding of each practice.
2. Have all the team members read through the practices. For each practice, each team member should circle the numeric rating that they think represents how the SSC operates.
3. Take a few minutes for each team member to share how he or she rated the items in each category.
4. Take the time to discuss items where team members have significantly different ratings.
5. Build a general agreement among the team about what overall score best reflects the current practice of the SSC for each item and/or category.


Using the following scale, indicate how typical each statement is of your School Site Council.
NS = Not sure;
1 = Never occurs on the SSC;
2 = Seldom occurs;
3 = Sometimes occurs;
4 = Normally occurs;
5 = Always (or almost always) occurs on the SSC
 

 
1. Recruit and elect the SSC
 
  NS  12345

a. The members of our school community are aware of the role of the School Site Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

b. At our school everyone is encouraged to consider running for a position on the School Site Council. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c. The Union Committee at our school conducts the SSC election for teachers and paraprofessionals

 

 

 

 

 

 

d. The Principal at our school ensures that the elections for parent representatives for SSC, and where appropriate for the ELAC, are conducted in accordance with district guidelines and democratic principles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For secondary schools:
e. The Principal at our school makes sure that there is a clear and fair process for electing students to the School Site Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
2. Establish roles and procedures
 
 NS  12 3 45
a. When new members are elected to the SSC they participate in an orientation session that includes: a review of our SSC bylaws, site plan & budget, and school-wide student performance data.      
b. Our SSC works hard to arrange our meetings at a time that allows for maximum participation by all members.      
c. We have a current set of bylaws that have been customized and approved by our School Site Council.      
d. The SSC officers help our SSC follow the guidelines and poli¬cies outlined in our bylaws.      
e. Roles and responsibilities for operating our School Site Council are clearly understood and supported by all members      
 
 
3. Develop team norms
 
  NS 1 2 34 5
a. Our Council has a set of guidelines or "norms" that clarify how we will work together.       
b. Our guidelines reflect an awareness of, and respect for, the cultural and linguistic diversity of all members.      
c. We encourage and support full participation of all members during our School Site Council meetings.      
d. We are able to raise and discuss the difficult issues that affect our school’s ability to achieve the results for students outlined in the School Site Plan.      

 

 

4. Establish decision guidelines

 

   NS 12345
a. We understand how the School Site Council is connected to the overall decision- making process at our school.       
b. Our SSC by-laws clearly state how we will use consensus or voting as our primary decision-making option.       
c. We use student performance data and educational research to inform our decisions.       
d. We do a good job of making sure that a variety of ideas and issues are considered and addressed before we reach major decisions.       
e. We leave each meeting with a clear understanding of, and commitment to, our key decisions and next steps.       

 

 Return to top of page

 

5. Promote community Involvement

 

  NS123 45
a. SSC Agendas are developed and posted on a school bulletin board at least 72 hours in advance of each SSC Meeting.      
b. Meeting minutes are recorded and distributed to all SSC members and publicly posted at our school.       
c. SSC members actively gather feedback from the groups they represent to ensure that the SSC fairly represents the broader school community views about how to address student needs in the School Site Plan.       
d. The SSC Chair and principal ensure that feedback and ideas from the English Language Advisory Committee and/or other Advisory committees are included in the development of our School Site Plan.       
e. Our School Site Council conducts least two school community meetings each year to share information and gather feedback about the School Site Plan.       

 

 Return to top of page

 

6. Develop site plan and budget

 

  NS 12345
a. We understand the District priorities and are clear about how these guide the school site planning process.       
b. We take the time at our SSC meetings to make sure everyone understands the language and terms used in the School Site Plan.       
c. We know how to interpret student and school performance data to identify the needs of our students as the basis for planning.       
d. We have thoughtful discussions about whether or not different educational programs or strategies will meet the needs of our students.       
e. Most of our SSC members have a basic understanding of how to distribute budget resources to the activities and programs agreed to in the site plan.       

 

 

 

7. Monitor implementation

 

  NS12345
a. Our SSC agrees on how we will monitor the implementation of the site plan throughout the year.      
b. Our SSC agrees on how we will review multiple forms of student performance data to determine the effectiveness of our school site plan.       
c. All SSC members are willing to raise constructive questions or concerns about the activities or programs that are not being implemented, or that are not showing signs of progress toward student goals.       
d. Our SSC looks for ways to support school leaders and staff when site plan objectives and activities are not being met.       
e. The Principal reviews any proposed changes or adjustments to the school site plan and budget throughout the year with our SSC so that questions and concerns can be addressed before members are required to sign final signature pages.       

 

 Return to top of page

 

SSC Self-Assessment Summary


Once you have finished the self-assessment please complete the following worksheet to help determine next steps in building the effectiveness of your School Site Council.

 

 Category

Score and Comments Possible Next Steps
1. Recruit and elect the SSC   
2. Establish roles and procedures  
3. Develop team norms  
4. Establish decision guidelines  
5. Promote community Involvement  
 6. Develop site plan and budget   
 7. Monitor implementation  

Example:

6 Develop site plan and budget

Score- 2.3

We need to develop a better understanding of the budget process 

Send 2-3 SSC members to DWBAC 


 Return to top of page