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School Site Council (SSC)

School Site Councils (SSCs)

School Site Councils (SSCs) are essential decision-making bodies at each school, consisting of members elected by their peers to represent the school community. The primary role of SSCs is to guide the educational planning process, ensuring that all students’ needs are adequately addressed in the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The SPSA outlines the school's goals, programs, activities, and funding (depending on availability) to ensure all students meet or exceed grade-level standards.

 

SSCs promote shared governance, a practice shown to support a positive school culture, professional community among educators, improved classroom practices, and enhanced student learning. As a result, the Federal government, the State of California, and the Fountain Valley School District (FVSD) have all embraced this model as an effective standard.

 

Key Principles Supporting SSCs:

  1. Involvement of Those Closest to Students: Decisions impacting a school’s instructional program should involve those closest to the students.
  2. Inclusive Planning Process: A school improvement plan is more successful when understood and created collaboratively.
  3. Family Participation: When families actively participate in all aspects of their children’s education, including decision-making, both the school and students benefit.

Composition of School Site Councils (SSCs)

The California Legislature and FVSD emphasize increasing site-level decision-makers by structuring SSCs to include those most impacted by school planning and budgeting. The required SSC composition varies by school level but always reflects a proportional representation of different groups.

  • Elementary Schools: Half of the council members are parents or community members, while the other half are school staff.
  • Middle Schools: The council is equally divided between school staff and community representatives, with the community portion split evenly between parents/community members and students.

 

SSC members commit to a two-year term, with elections held in early fall as needed.

The Composition of School Site Councils Diagram

Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)

The Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) serves as a strategic guide for school improvement, collaboratively developed by SSC staff and parent members. The SPSA outlines broad achievement goals for students, then breaks these down into specific, actionable steps by identifying student groups, grade-level participants, annual growth targets, evaluation tools, data collection needs, actions to take, and funding sources.

 

SPSA Objectives:

  • Define School Goals: Align with the District’s objective of improving student achievement and closing achievement gaps.
  • Identify and Align Resources: Specify the strategies, programs, services, and resources needed to meet school goals.
  • Monitor Progress: Track the school’s progress toward its objectives.
  • Guide Teaching and Learning: Provide a clear plan for enhancing instruction.
  • Communicate with the School Community: Act as a tool to share progress and strategies with the school community.

To view the SPSA for each school, CLICK HERE.