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F PART ONE : VISION <br /> 1. What is a school council? <br /> A school council is a representative, school building-based <br /> committee composed of the principal , parents, teachers, community <br /> members and, at the secondary level, students that each school is <br /> required to establish pursuant to Mass. General Laws Chapter 71 , <br /> Section 59C of Section 53 (as added by Section 53 of Chapter 71 of <br /> the Acts of 1993 . ) <br /> 2 . What is the reason the Education Reform Act calls for establishing <br /> school councils? <br /> Teachers, parents, and community members can become more committed <br /> to improving the schools and more supportive of the public school <br /> system when they enjoy the opportunity to serve or be represented <br /> on a school council that has a role in shaping the policies and <br /> programs of the school . One Massachusetts school system, which <br /> instituted site-based decision making and school councils prior to <br /> the statewide mandate, includes the following preamble in its <br /> guidelines for councils : <br /> values behind site-based decision making through <br /> '._ councils: (the council) improves student outcomes by <br /> uniting, in responsible participation, those closest to <br /> the teaching-learning relationship; (the council) creates <br /> through the development of a shared vision and planning <br /> a school environment which unites all members of the <br /> school community in a sense of belonging, commitment and <br /> growth. <br /> 3 . What are the educational benefits of site-based decision making? <br /> Site-based decision making places the school at the center of <br /> planning, goal setting, and budgeting for school improvement . It <br /> provides additional opportunities for teachers and administrators <br /> who are closest to the teaching-learning process to be innovative <br /> and creative. Site-based decision making also allows teachers and <br /> administrators to work with parents and the community to become <br /> more responsive to the needs of a particular school ' s population. <br /> For example, the teachers at a particular school may find that, <br /> because of the characteristics of their students, they have a need <br /> for a particular type of inservice training that is not offered or <br /> needed district-wide . Under site-based decision making, this <br /> school may be given the discretionary authority over staff <br /> development resources to meet this need. <br /> 1 <br />