Emelita Street School

Overview

The purpose of bilingual education programs is to provide eligible students the opportunity to acquire language skills in English necessary for their successful participation in an English -only instructional program. This is accomplished through various structured immersion models and primary language support. The trigger for assessment is determined by the Home Language Survey. California English Language Development Test (CELDT) results determines eligibility as Limited English-Proficient (LEP) candidates. Students are transitioned into an English-only program when they meet established criteria for redesignation. Once redesignated students are re-classified as fluent-English proficient (RFEP). Schools where the total LEP enrollment is more than twenty students need to develop an English Learners Advisory Committee (ELAC).

Purpose

The participants in these committees are parents of LEP students and they participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the local school’s program for LEP students. They advise the school on Bilingual funding issues since these programs receive state and district funding. Schools are responsible for providing at least eight meetings to inform parents of the academic program for LEP students and budget items that directly impact student learning.

When LAUSD restructured into Local Districts we became responsible for informing parents of policy changes that occur at the Central District level or the State/Federal level and the impact these changes in policies and laws have on the LEP child’s education.

Functions of the ELAC

The role and responsibilities of the school-level English Learners Advisory Committee shall include the following:
Advise and assist the principal and staff in the implementation and evaluation of the Master Plan.

• Participate in the development of the school plan.
• Participate in the development of the school bilingual budget.
• Assist in the development of the school needs assessment.
• Assist with efforts to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.
• Participate and assist the Zone English Learners Advisory Committee in the dissemination of information and materials related to all aspects of the Master Plan.
• Participate in the administration of the language census.
• Participate in the planning of the school parent-training program in
• Coordination with District guidelines and Master Plan requirements.
• Participate in training sessions and workshops that will provide the necessary skills and practice for the committee members to carry out their responsibilities.

School Committees

Each school with more than 20 identified LEP students shall establish an ELAC. The school may designate an existing school-level advisory committee or subcommittee for this purpose but said committee must meet all the functions and requirements for school advisory committees on bilingual education, such as composition of committee, sign-in sheets, agendas, minutes, and bylaws. (Education Code Sec. 62002.5)

Parent Members

Parents and guardians (not employed by the District) of LEP students shall constitute membership on the committee in at least the same percentage as their children represent the total number of pupils in the school. They shall not constitute less than a majority (51 percent) of the membership on this committee.

The local school administrator should seek participation from parents representing all language groups in the school. Members are elected to the ELAC by the parents and/or guardians (not employed by the District) of LEP students.

Other Members

It is recommended that as many segments of the school community as possible be represented on the committee from the following groups:

• Parents of non-LEP students
• Community members
• Students (secondary schools)
• School staff Representatives of school support groups, parent clubs, booster clubs, PTA, other school support groups

These members shall be elected from their respective groups and shall constitute less than fifty percent of the combined membership. All members elected shall have equal voting rights.

District employees (teacher assistants, education aides, community representatives) may serve as elected representatives on District and Local District English Learners Advisory Committees and may be released from their job assignments to attend school ELAC meetings or to attend Local District and Central English Learners Advisory Committee meetings. However, provisions must be made for these employees to work and provide services at another time and day. They may attend meetings when they are scheduled during non-paid time or when the employee is on unpaid status for these hours.

BylawsEach school committee shall adopt by laws to identify functions and to govern meetings. Bylaws are to be written and approved by the committee.

Responsibility

The school principal has the responsibility for the proper function and implementation of the BAC.

Local District English Learners Advisory Committee (LDELAC)

Functions of the LDELAC shall include the following:

• Advise and assist principals by providing Orientations and Election training at school-level for ELAC in accordance with Central District and State guidelines.
• Disseminate information concerning components of the District Master Plan to ELAC members in our Local District English Learners Advisory Committee.
• Advise principals in the establishment of the Master Plan program goals and objectives.
• Advise and assist principals in the implementation and evolution of Master Plan programs.
• Assist in planning and implementing parent education and training (according to the Master Plan requirements) to support the instructional program.
• Participate in functions and activities sponsored by the LDELAC.

Composition

Each school with more than 20 identified LEP students shall elect a representative and an alternate from its Bilingual Advisory Committee to serve on the Local District English Learners Advisory Committee.

It is strongly encouraged that the elected representative not be employed by LAUSD. The alternate shall represent the school on the Local District English Learners Advisory Committee only when the elected representative is absent. The ELAC chairperson may serve as the Local District English Learners Advisory Committee representative by vote of the ELAC. The principal should seek participation from parents representing all language groups in the LDELAC.

Members

Parents and guardians (not employed by the District) shall constitute a majority (51 percent) of the total LD English Learners Advisory Committee. If it is apparent that there is not a majority of parent representatives of LEP students on any LD English Learners Advisory Committee (as required by Education Code 62002.5), the following procedures be implemented at the first meeting to correct this situation:

• The names of schools with non-parent representatives shall be put into a drawing pool.
• A drawing from the pool shall be held, under the auspices of the Superintendent, for a sufficient number of school representatives to ensure a majority representation of parents of LEP pupils.
• Schools so identified shall have their ELAC elect a parent representative as their new representative. If the alternate representative from the school is a parent of a LEP pupil, the ELAC may designate this parent as its representative.

Bylaws

The LD English Learners Advisory Committee shall function under the Central District English Learners Advisory Committee.

Responsibility

The Parent/Community Services Assistant Superintendent or the designee shall have the responsibility for the proper function and implementation of the LD English Learners Advisory Committee.