Green Dot Online Tutorial

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Green Dot Online Tutorial
Setting up Your English Learner Advisory Committee
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What is an English Learner Advisory Committee?

• Parents of English Learners
• Who make recommendations to the School Advisory
  Committee
• On the implementation and evaluation
• Of schools services for English Learners

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What is the purpose of ELAC?

• Build the capacity of parents and guardians to
  assist in the education of their children
• ELAC members do this by advising the school on
  implementing and evaluating programs for English
  Learners . . .
• and by making parents aware of the importance of
  regular school attendance

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Which schools have ELAC?

• Every school with 21 or more speakers of a
  language other than Englishno matter what the
  language must have an English Learner Advisory
  Committee

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Who participates in the ELAC?

• At least 51 are parents and guardians of English
  Learners
• The remaining 49 can be composed of
• School staff
• Students
• Community members
• Including parents of non-EL students

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How can we get an ELAC going in our school?

• Announce formation of the English Learner
  Advisory Council
• Notes home
• School news
• School Advisory Council
• Notices (samples provided)

• All parents who attend become ELAC members

• Elect and train officers (must be parents of ELs)
• Set up calendar of meetings

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What about ELAC officers?

• Group elects by majority vote
• Chair (or Co-chairs)
• Secretary
• Cluster ELAC representative (once CELAC has begun)

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Suggested agenda for first ELAC meeting

• Purpose of ELAC
• Election of Officers (Chair and Secretary, First
  Year)
• Data presentation about English Learners at site
• Proposed dates and times for meetings
• Needs assessment
• Announcements (classes, family nights, parent
  involvement opportunities, etc.)

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What about by-laws?

• See Green Dot template for by-laws
• Functions
• Composition
• Officers
• Administrative Responsibility
• Delegation of Authority
• Terms of membership
• Quorum and voting
• Duties of officers
• Meetings
• Amendments
• Ratification

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How do we train the officers to do their jobs?

• See file titled ELACCalifornia Institute for
  School Improvement (pages 29-44)
• Spanish version of the file Spanish
  ELACCalifornia Institute for School Improvement

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What information do ELAC members need to learn?

• Importance of School Attendance
• Language Census (R30)

• Instructional programs for English Learners
• Parental Waivers

• Initial Identification (see podcast)
• Parent Notifications (see podcast)
• Reclassification (see podcast)
• EL Assessments and Data
• ELD Curriculum
• Sheltered Instruction

• How to give input on the needs of English
  Learners

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How do we involve parents in making
recommendations for the school?

• Monthly informational meetings
• Needs Assessment (sample provided)
• --Parenting
• --Responsibilities of the School
• ELAC Facilitator guides the group in making
  recommendations to the School Advisory Committee
• ELAC Facilitator accompanies ELAC officers to
  meeting of School Advisory Committee to deliver
  recommendations

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What are some suggested themes for the year?

• Path to college
• What courses does your student need (a-g
  requirements)?
• What else does your student need to know and be
  able to do?
• What are college options?
• How do students apply and pay for college?
• How to support schoolwork in the home

• Communicating with school staff
• Expectations of school
• Parent conferences
• What questions to ask
• Getting to know the counselor

• Learning a new language and culture
• Learning English
• Keeping up with coursework
• Finding resources within the community
• Steering clear of gangs
• Importance of preserving the language of the home

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What does a year in the life of an ELAC look like?

• August
• Calendar ELAC meetings for the year
• September
• Recruit members
• Hold first meeting
• Conduct needs/interest assessment (first year
  only)
• October
• Elect officers
• Information segment CELDT
• Guest speaker on topic of interest (related to
  years theme)
• Schedule training for officers
• Schedule regular planning meetings with officers

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What does a year in the life of an ELAC look like?

• November
• Officers assume their duties (first year only)
• Information segment Programs for English
  Learners (ESL)
• Guest speaker on topic of interest (related to
  years theme)
• December
• Information segment Programs for English
  Learners (SDAIE content classes)
• Holiday celebration
• January
• Information segment CELDT results
• Guest speaker on topic of interest (related to
  theme)

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What does a year in the life of an ELAC look like?

• February
• Information segment Reclassification
• RFEP
  Monitoring
• Guest speaker on topic of interest (related to
  years theme)
• March
• Information segment CAHSEE testing
• Guest speaker on topic of interest (related to
  theme)
• April
• Information segment CST and STS testing
• ELAC program recommendations for next school year

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What does a year in the life of an ELAC look like?

• May
• ELAC officers present program recommendations to
  School Advisory Committee
• Information segment Summer school and Summer
  Bridge
• Recruiting new students
• Report on
  presentation to SAC
• June
• Election of new officers
• Planning for next years ELACinterest assessment
• End-of-year celebration
• Secretary compiles records of ELAC activities for
  the year

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How do we keep records of the groups activities?

• Secretary keeps a 3-ring binder that includes

• Agendas
• Election Ballots
• Minutes and hand-outs from presentations
• Attendance lists
• Slate of officers
• ELAC recommendations to the school

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What are some tips for successful ELAC meetings?

• Scheduling

• Transportation
• Incentives for attending (extra service hours)

• Food

• Young children

• Interpreting

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What are the advantages of an ELAC?

• Involves parents in the life of the school

• Makes the involvement meaningful

• Allows parents to learn about ESL and SDAIE
  programs

• Provides parents opportunities to develop
  leadership

• Provides school staff with information regarding
  the interests, needs and talents of parents

• Ambassador program

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What is a CELAC?

• Cluster-level English Learning Advisory Committee
• Jefferson
• Founding Five
• Locke

• Gives input to cluster-level leadership re
  English Learner program implementation and
  evaluation

• To be set up once school ELACs are in place

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By when do we take our first steps?

• Complete the post-test and send to Cristina
  DeJesus

• By October 30
• Assign an ELAC Coordinator (Principal or AP
  Parent Coordinator can assist)
• ELAC Coordinator views this podcast

• By November 15
• Calendar first ELAC meeting
• Recruit members

• By December 15
• Hold first ELAC meeting
• Elect officers

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What resources are available to us on Green Dot
Intranet?

• Green Dot by-laws template
• Manual for training ELAC officers
• Template for ELAC minutes (English and Spanish)
• Sample needs assessment for ELAC members
• Notice of ELAC meeting (English and Spanish)
• ELAC Role, Purpose and Requirements
  http//www.cde.ca.gov/ta/cr/el/elac.asp
• Roberts Rules of Order robertsrules.org/rulesintr
  o.htm