Philadelphia's School Advisory Councils face challenges in family engagement and governance
March 22, 2025 | Commerce & Economic Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The House Commerce Committee convened on March 20, 2025, to discuss the implementation and implications of school advisory committees (SACs) in Vermont's educational system. The meeting highlighted the experiences of the Philadelphia school district, which established SACs in 2016 to enhance family and community involvement in education.
The discussion began with an overview of Philadelphia's policy, which aimed to create collaborative teams consisting of family members, school principals, teachers, students, and community members. Despite the initial intent to foster change and support student achievement, the Philadelphia SACs have faced challenges, including unclear operational policies and difficulties in recruiting family members, leading to unfilled committee seats.
Key concerns were raised regarding the resources required for effective SAC operation. The Philadelphia district has a dedicated office for family and community engagement, which underscores the need for similar support structures in Vermont. The role of school principals was also emphasized, as they are expected to lead these committees while managing their other responsibilities.
The committee discussed several governance considerations necessary for establishing SACs, including defining the size and roles of the committees, election processes, term lengths, quorum requirements, and meeting protocols. A significant point of contention was how the introduction of SACs would affect the existing chain of authority and accountability within Vermont's educational governance system. Currently, authority flows from the community to the school board, then to the superintendent and staff, with accountability moving in the opposite direction.
The meeting concluded with a call for further exploration of these governance issues and how to integrate SACs effectively into the existing framework. The committee acknowledged the importance of addressing these questions to ensure that any new structure supports the educational goals of Vermont's schools. Further discussions and follow-up actions are anticipated as the committee continues to evaluate the potential implementation of SACs.
The discussion began with an overview of Philadelphia's policy, which aimed to create collaborative teams consisting of family members, school principals, teachers, students, and community members. Despite the initial intent to foster change and support student achievement, the Philadelphia SACs have faced challenges, including unclear operational policies and difficulties in recruiting family members, leading to unfilled committee seats.
Key concerns were raised regarding the resources required for effective SAC operation. The Philadelphia district has a dedicated office for family and community engagement, which underscores the need for similar support structures in Vermont. The role of school principals was also emphasized, as they are expected to lead these committees while managing their other responsibilities.
The committee discussed several governance considerations necessary for establishing SACs, including defining the size and roles of the committees, election processes, term lengths, quorum requirements, and meeting protocols. A significant point of contention was how the introduction of SACs would affect the existing chain of authority and accountability within Vermont's educational governance system. Currently, authority flows from the community to the school board, then to the superintendent and staff, with accountability moving in the opposite direction.
The meeting concluded with a call for further exploration of these governance issues and how to integrate SACs effectively into the existing framework. The committee acknowledged the importance of addressing these questions to ensure that any new structure supports the educational goals of Vermont's schools. Further discussions and follow-up actions are anticipated as the committee continues to evaluate the potential implementation of SACs.
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