Be a part of education in San Diego: get involved in district committees

Advisory committees provide important public input to the Board of Education, Superintendent, Principals and other staff on issues facing the school district. The meetings are open to the public. Here is a list of some of the committees serving the San Diego Unified School District.

District English Learning Advisory Committee (DELAC)

The District English Learning Advisory Committee (DELAC) is made of up representatives from each school’s English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC), required if there are more than 21 English learners in that school. The school committee advises the principal and staff on programs and services for English learners.

The DELAC’s role is to advise the district on the programs and services that the district provides to English learners.

This year, for the first time, there will be a student representative in on the District English Learning Advisory Committee Executive Board.
Contact Valentina Hernandez, 2013-14 DELAC Chairperson, at Valentinahs@aol.com or call (619) 366-0379.

The upcoming DELAC general meetings are on Oct. 3, Nov. 7., Dec. 5, 2013; Jan. 23, Feb. 20, March 20, May 15 and June 12, 2014 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Ballard Parent Center at 2375 Congress Street (92110) in Old Town. Parents, teachers, administrators and community members are welcomed.

Gifted And Talented Education District Advisory Committee (GATE DAC)

The goals and objectives of the GATE DAC are to advise district leadership on gifted program development, planning and implementation as required by state law, act as regional liaison to school sites for development of gifted programs, act as resource persons for district-wide parent meetings, channel community questions concerning district-wide programs for follow-up and action, set DAC priorities for program review, discussion and explanation during monthly meetings, and review district program objectives, activities, budget timelines and annual evaluation.

Contact Katie Anderson, GATE DAC co chair, at parentsofgate@gmail.com or (858) 663-6808. Also find information at www.sandi.net/gate.

The first meeting is from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Sept., 9, at the Ballard Parent Center, 2375 Congress Street, (92110).

Community Advisory Committee For Special Education (CAC)

The Community Advisory Committee For Special Education (CAC) advises the Board of Education and Special Education Program staff about the Special Education Local Plan (SELPA), annual priorities, parent education and other special education-related activities. California Education Code mandates that each SELPA must have a CAC and that a majority of members be parents.

General meetings are normally held on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.; see  www.sandi.net/cac for locations. These meetings are open to the public.

For more information, contact Christy Scadden, CAC chairperson, at cscadden@cox.net or (619) 725-7650. Information is also available at www.sandi.net/cac.

The first meeting is at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Ballard Parent Center, 2375 Congress Street (92110).

District Advisory Council For Compensatory Education (DAC)

The District Advisory Council For Compensatory Education (DAC) focuses on the funding that flows into San Diego Unified from the state and federal government for students that are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
The DAC is a parent-led district advisory group that provides training, data, and budget information concerning funds that are meant to target to socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Participants are prepared to discuss and offer advice to a school site council, district staff, the Superintendent and the Board of Education. Each School Site Council that participates in state and federally funded programs and sends a representative to each DAC meeting to vote on funding priorities for this money and to relay important district information to the school’s SSC. Contact Amy Redding, DAC chairperson at dac.sdusd@gmail.com or see www.sandi.net/dac for more information.
The meetings are generally scheduled at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at Ballard Parent Center, 2375 Congress Street (92110). The first meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 18.