Policy & Decision Making at the Local Level
School vs. District Educational Decisions
School Boards:
Local school boards have broad power to approve and create budgets, hire district superintendents and set district policies for instruction aligned with state standards, facilities, and health and safety. They can also approve and support local charter schools.
County Office of Education and Board:
County office provides direct instruction to the county’s most vulnerable student populations through its alternative and special education divisions. They also support local school districts with services that are necessary for their operations, including professional development, high-speed internet access and security, legal and fiscal guidance, payroll systems, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval, and student enrichment.
School Districts:
https://ed100.org/lessons/districts
How Parents & Caregivers Can Make Their Voices Heard
There are several ways parents, guardians, and caregivers can get involved and have their voices heard by their various elected representatives:
- Registering to vote
- Attending public forums and meetings:
- School board meetings
- Community forums
- Community meetings
- Neighborhood council meetings
- LCAP review meetings
- Learning about current issues
- Volunteering in the community
- Serving on local, state or national boards and commissions
- Serving on Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
- School Site Councils
- School Site Governance Teams
- Writing letters to representatives
