Collaborative Schools Committee Meeting/ Junta del Comité Escolar de Colaboración.

Posted October 22, 2024

WHAT IS A COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CSC:

The Collaborative School Committee (CSC) is an advisory committee that brings together families, staff and community members to create and implement a plan to promote high achievement within a school. This committee meets at least quarterly throughout the school year and is an opportunity for key stakeholders to have a voice in their school. 

  • Colorado law requires all schools to have a CSC to increase the amount of accountability and family involvement in our schools. 
  • We recommend that the CSC serves as the primary family involvement structure for schools, and that the other structures (such as Title I Family Engagement and ELA Parent Advisory Committees) function as subcommittees. 
  • The CSC is one of five school committees. See the School Committee Matrix for more information about the scope of work of each of these committees.

Click here to learn more about state policy that defines the work of CSCs.

WHO SERVE ON CSC:

Every school is required by state statute to have a School Accountability Committee (SAC), which are known as CSCs in Denver Public Schools. At minimum, CSCs are seven person committees, made up of:

  • Principal or Designee
  • 1 Teacher
  • 1 Community Member
  • 1 Member of a school run organization, such as the PTA
  • 3 or more Parents
  • Optional: Schools may also school to have a classified staff member as part of the committee and a student representative (at the high school level only)

Other requirements:

  • Parents are intended to be the largest stateholder group.
  • Parent and staff members are chosen by their respective communities through an election process. Efforts should be made to recruit a committee that is representative of the student population.
  • A parent should serve at the CSC chair or co-chair.
  • The community members is selected by a consenus decision from the entire community
  • Committee members should only represent one role when serving on their committees.

WHAT ARE THE CSC’s RESPONSIBILITIES:

The CSC is an advisory committee and responsible for providing guidance and recommendations to school leadership on topics such as:

  • Reviewing and monitoring the Unified Improvement Plan (UIP)
  • Recommendations on budget priorities
  • Helping the school implement family engagement strategies
  • Reviewing the school safety and discipline plan
  • Making recommendations to any program design changes

The CSC does NOT:

  • Participate in the day-to-day operations of the school;
  • Involve itself in issues relating to individuals (staff, students, or parents) within the school
  • Involve itself in personnel issues (the School Personnel Committee will stand alone according to the current DPS/DCTA contract)
  • Advocate for their own perspective, rather than for the greater good of the school

CSC Meetings:

  • CSCs are required to meet quarterly, but can choose to meet monthly to maximize engagement and impact.
  • To be more efficient, hold CSC meetings the same time as other key parent meetings (e.g. ELA-PAC, academic standard nights, etc.)
  • Meeting dates, agendas and minutes must be posted publicly and be visible to the school community
  • Keep records of your agenda, minutes, and sign-in sheets.
  • Officers are elected by consensus. The CSC chairperson is responsible for facilitating official CSC meetings. The Secretary compiles minutes.
  • Recommendations should be made by consensus. A consensus recommendation is either unanimous or a majority recommendation that the entire committee (including dissenters) will implement and support.