A school site council shall be established at each school that participates in the school improvement program authorized by this chapter.  The council shall be composed of the principal and representatives: teachers selected by teachers at the school; other school personnel selected by other school personnel at the school; parents of pupils attending the school selected by such parents; and, in secondary schools, pupils selected by pupils attending the school.  At the elementary level the council shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the principal, classroom teachers and other school personnel; and (b) parents or other community members selected by parents.  In schools with fewer than three teachers, this requirement may be met by establishing a council that is composed of equal numbers of school staff and parents or other community members selected by parents.  At the secondary level the council shall be constituted to ensure parity between (a) the principal, classroom teachers and other school personnel and (b) equal numbers of parents or other community members selected by parents, and pupils.

Section 52001

(a) “Other school personnel” means persons who work directly and on a regular basis with pupils, including administrative employees, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 33150, pupil services employees, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 33150, and classified employees.

 (b) “Community member” means a person who is neither in the employment of the school district, nor the parent or guardian of a pupil attending the participating school.

Section 64001(g)

The plan required by this section shall be reviewed annually and updated, including proposed expenditure of funds allocated to the school through the consolidated application, by the school site council, or, if the school does not have a school site council, by school-wide advisory groups or school support groups that conform to the requirements of Section 52012.  The plans shall be reviewed and approved by the governing board of the local education agency at a regularly scheduled meeting whenever there are material changes that affect the academic programs for students covered by programs.

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5

Section 4000.  Classroom Teacher.

“Classroom teacher” means all teachers as defined in former Education Code Section 33150(b) except those included in the definition of “other school personnel” as defined in former Education Code Section 52001(a), (b) See above.

Section 4001.  Parity.

“Parity” of membership between various groups of persons identified in former Education Code section 52012 and Education Code section 52852 means equal numbers of persons.

Section 4002.  Parent Eligible for Membership on the School-Site Council.

“Parent eligible for membership on the school site council” means a person who is the mother, father, or legal guardian, or one acting in loco parentis of a pupil attending the particular school but who is not employed at the school attended by such pupil.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Q: Who are the “other school staff” that may be represented on the school site council?

R: To fully represent the school community, representatives of certificated personnel such as school nurses, counselors and psychologists and resource teachers may be elected to the council.  In addition, representatives of classified staff such as instructional aides, clerks and others may also be elected.

Q: Is a union representative automatically entitled to membership on the council?

R: No.  This would be inconsistent with the terms of EC 52012, which precludes imposition of additional qualifications.