File:  KBG - PARENT ADVISORY COUNCILS (PACs)

Massachusetts General Law requires the formation and support of specific Parent Advisory Councils.  These PACs can provide valuable feedback for School Committees.  Committees should engage with their PACs to encourage stakeholder feedback by both designating liaisons to their PACs as with other groups and inviting the PACs to present updates on their activities to the Committee on a regular basis.

PACs must be granted access to district resources to assist them in their operations and activities where available, including but not limited to spaces for meetings and the ability to communicate with parents in the manner most accessible.   PACs will not be charged for using district facilities.

Special Education Parent Advisory Councils

Every district in Massachusetts and their school committee are responsible for the establishment and support of a Special Education Parent Advisory Council, or SEPAC, in their city or town.

The "duties of the SEPAC, shall include but not be limited to: advising the school committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities: meeting regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school committee's special education programs."

If a district does not have an established SEPAC, the School Committee, in conjunction with the district, shall solicit volunteers to form an interim SEPAC board. The interim board shall then work independently to create bylaws following the guidance put forth by DESE and hold formal elections by the end of the current school year.

In the absence of a SEPAC, the Student Services Department will hold the required annual Basic Rights workshop until one is established.

English Learner Parent Advisory Councils and Multilanguage Learner Parent Advisory Councils

ELPACs, or MLPACs,  are required in Massachusetts under the following conditions:

"School districts or charter schools operating a language acquisition program for ELs serving 100 or more ELs or in which ELs comprise at least five percent of the school district's or charter school's student population, whichever is less; and/or

"Schools designated as underperforming or chronically underperforming and operating a program for ELs

ELPACs and MLPACs "are intended by law to advise school districts and schools regarding matters that impact ELs, such as providing advice on English learner education programs, meeting regularly with school officials about educational opportunities for ELs, and providing input on school or district improvement plans as they relate to ELs."

Schools and/or districts will provide notification to parents/guardians annually in a language that is accessible to them.

LEGAL REFS:  MGL Ch 71B, Section 3

603 CMR 28.07 (4)

603 CMR 28.03 (1) (a) (4)

"Act Relative to Language Opportunity for Our Kids,"

Chapter 138 of the Acts of 2017 (The LOOK Act)

OTHER REFS:  Guidance for Special Education Parent Advisory Councils - DESE 2010

Guidance for English Learner Parent Advisory Councils - DESE 2018