School Site Council

"The school is the significant unit for improvement and those associated with the individual school are the persons to effect change."
--John Goodlad, A Place Called School

The original purpose of school site councils was to transform schools into effective learning environments by providing school staff and school community members with the authority, flexibility, and resources they need to solve educational problems and implement change. Site councils give ownership to those responsible for carrying out decisions by involving them directly in making the decisions. It also enables the school community to create school conditions that facilitate improvement, innovation, and continuous learning. The ultimate goal of site-based management is to improve the teaching and learning environment for all students.

What is the School Site Council?

The School Site Council is a committee composed of school personnel, students, parents and/or other community members. It provides a forum for the school community to come together to review student data, identify common goals, and to establish a plan to achieve these goals.

The School Site Council meets at the Antelope View campus, 3243 Center Court Lane.

What are the responsibilities of the School Site Council?

The basic principle underlying the establishment of the School Site Council (SSC) is that individuals who are most affected by the operation of the school's functions should be involved in the decision-making process. This involvement occurs through the development of a School Charter, School Improvement Plan, the assessment of their effectiveness, and the ongoing review and updating of the School Charter and Improvement Plan.

The School Site Council is responsible for data driven decision-making:

• Accessing the educational needs of students and staff.
• Setting and prioritizing goals for the school program.
• Formulating and updating the School Charter and Improvement Plan.
• Approving the written charter/plan and recommending them to the board of trustees.
• Continuously reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the School Charter and Improvement Plan.
• Providing advisement over the annual school improvement budget and additional funds for special programs.

National studies of site councils and site-based management found that the following strategies were needed:

• Dispersed power: Effective site councils disperse power throughout the school by involving many stakeholders in providing advice and assist in making decisions to bring about change in teaching and learning practices.
• Timely and needed professional development: Professional development must be established and provided to site council members as an ongoing school-wide activity that is directed toward building school-wide capacity for change, creating a professional community, and developing a shared knowledge base.
• Provided information: Thriving site councils disseminate information broadly so that participants can make informed decisions about the school and stakeholders are informed of school performance.
• Effective leaders: Effective councils have principals who lead and delegate, disperse power, promote a school-wide commitment to growth in skills and knowledge, get all teachers to participate in the work of the school, collect and use information about student learning, distribute rewards, and promote an organization and climate in which teachers are the leaders in instruction and curriculum.
• Visionary: Schools where site-based management has worked well have adopted a well-defined vision of their mission, values, and goals regarding student outcomes--a vision that guides curriculum and instruction as well as other decision-making forums.
• Accomplishment/Recognition: Effective site councils frequently acknowledge/reward individuals and groups on progress they have made toward reaching school goals.

Responsibilities of Site Council Members

• Council agendas include discussion of student learning, educational programs, school improvement planning, and accreditation issues.
• The chair, in consultation with the building principal or his or her designee(s), establishes agendas, conducts meetings, and communicates site council advisement.
• Site council members participate in sanctioned school improvement meetings and visits in an advisory capacity.
• Site council members periodically communicate with the school community and, at least annually with the local board, on site council activities and other council matters.
• Site council members take part in ongoing training to build their knowledge and skills related to site council work.