School Advisory Council
Polk County Public Schools

What is a School Advisory Council?

Purpose
School Advisory Councils (SACs) were created by the Florida Legislature to assure continuous progress of Florida’s eight education goals in each school. The purpose of the council is to develop, monitor, and evaluate results of the School Improvement Plan. The SAC shall assist in preparing the school’s annual budget. The SAC must operate within the policies of the School Board and the parameters established by the state legislature.

Membership
Council membership reflects the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school. A majority of the members of each SAC must be persons who are not employed by the school. Teachers, support staff, parents and students are elected to the Council. Community members are appointed by the principal.

Meetings
The SAC meets as often as necessary to perform its duties, but no less than four times per school year. *SACs operate under the Florida Sunshine State Law and are open to the public. The agenda includes any topic related to the development of the School Improvement Plan.

School Advisory Council

Roles and Responsibilities

School Improvement Plan
The School Improvement Plan is developed by the School Advisory Council.  It identifies objectives and strategies that will fulfill the school's mission through the use of resources that increase student achievement.

School Board

• Approves School Improvement Plans and School Advisory Council membership

• Will appoint members to Council to achieve proper representation

• Develops policies and procedures in response to Florida Statutes

• Provides leadership to district and school staff in improving schools and increasing student achievement

• Provides training and technical assistance to School Advisory Council

• Monitors legislated elements to Council membership and School Improvement Planning

• Involves all stakeholders in success of the school
• Informs SAC of relevant issues that relate to school improvement
• Determines strategy for making plans available to public

• Schedules SAC meetings in cooperation with Principal
• Sets agenda and facilitates meeting
• Assures proper notification of meetings
• Determines strategy for making plans available to public

• Determine school improvement priorities based on a review of school progress and needs

• Decide on the expenditure of SAC funds to meet school improvement goals

• Assist in reading and recruiting other SAC members

Florida’s Education Goals
Goal 1
Readiness to Start School
Communities and schools collaborate to prepare children and families for children's success in school.

Goal 2
Graduation Rate and Readiness for Postsecondary
Education and Employment
Students graduate and are prepared to enter the workforce and postsecondary education.

Goal 3
Student Performance
Students successfully compete at the highest levels nationally and internationally and are prepared to make well-reasoned, thoughtful, and healthy lifelong decisions.

Goal 4
Learning Environment
School boards provide a learning environment conducive to teaching and learning.

Goal 5
School Safety and Environment
Communities provide an environment that is drug-free and protects students' health, safety and civil rights.

Goal 6
Teachers and Staff
The schools districts, colleges of education, postsecondary institutions, and state ensure professional teachers and staff.

Goal 7
Adult Literacy
Adult Floridians are literate and have the knowledge and skills needed to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Goal 8
Parent Involvement
Communities, school boards, and schools provide opportunities for involving parents and guardians as active partners in achieving school improvement and educational accountability.

For more information contact:
Community Involvement Programs, Polk County Schools
P. O. Box 391, Bartow, FL  33831-0391
(863) 534-0636 phone