A district-level English Learner Advisory Committee comprises parents, staff, and community members to advise district officials on English learner programs and services.

Requirement

Each California public school district with 51 or more English learners must form a District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) unless the district designates a subcommittee of an existing district-wide advisory committee.

Responsibilities

The DELAC shall advise the school district governing board on at least the following tasks:

1. Development of a district master plan for education programs and services for English learners. The district master plan will take into consideration the school site master plans.
2. Conducting a district-wide needs assessment on a school-by-school basis.
3. Establishment of district program, goals, and objectives for programs and services for English learners.
4. Develop a plan to ensure compliance with applicable teacher and/or teacher aide requirements.
5. Review and comment on the school district reclassification procedures.
6. Review and comment on the written notifications required to be sent to parents and guardians.
7. If the DELAC acts as the English learner parent advisory committee under California Education Code Sections 52063(b)(1) and 52062(a)(2), the DELAC shall also review and comment on the development or annual update of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).*

Composition Requirements

Parents or guardians of English learners shall constitute the committee's majority membership (51 percent or more).

Elections

Each school's English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) shall have the opportunity to elect at least one of its members to be a site representative DELAC member. The district has 31 or more ELACs, it may use a proportional or regional representation system.

Training

School districts shall provide DELAC members with appropriate training materials to assist them in carrying out their required advisory responsibilities. Training shall be planned in full consultation with committee members, and funds from appropriate resources may be used to meet the costs of providing the training, including the costs associated with the attendance of the members at training sessions.

Legal References

• California Education Code, sections 35147, 52062(a)(2), 52063(b), 52069, 62002.5, and 64001(a)
• California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11308 and 15495(b)

California's Vision and Mission of Success for English Learners

The California English Learner Roadmap State Board of Education Policy: Educational Programs and Services for English Learners was passed by the State Board of Education on July 12, 2017. This policy is intended to assist the California Department of Education in providing guidance to local educational agencies (LEAs) to welcome, understand, and educate the diverse population of students who are English learners attending California public schools. The California English Learner Roadmap: Strengthening Comprehensive Educational Policies, Programs, and Practices for English Learners (CA EL Roadmap) articulated a shared vision and mission for educating English learners and supports LEAs as they implement the State Board policy.

Vision

English learners fully and meaningfully access and participate in a twenty-first-century education from early childhood through grade twelve that results in their attaining high levels of English proficiency, mastery of grade level standards, and opportunities to develop proficiency in multiple languages.

Mission

California schools affirm, welcome, and respond to diverse English learner (EL) strengths, needs, and identities. California schools prepare graduates with the linguistic, academic, and social skills and competencies they require for college, career, and civic participation in a global, diverse, and multilingual world, thus ensuring a thriving future for California.

The Principles

The principles of the English Learner Roadmap: Strengthening Comprehensive Educational Policies, Programs, and Practices for English Learners (CA EL Roadmap) are intended to guide all levels of the system toward a coherent and aligned set of practices, services, relationships, and approaches to teaching and learning that add up to a robust, effective, twenty-first-century education for all English learners.

Underlying this systemic application of the CA EL Roadmap principles is the foundational understanding that English learners are the shared responsibility of all educators and that all levels of the educational system have a role to play in ensuring the access and achievement of the over 1.3 million English learners who attend California schools.

Principle One: Assets-Oriented and Needs-Responsive Schools

Pre-schools and schools are responsive to different English learner (EL) strengths, needs, and identities and support English learners' socio-emotional health and development. Programs value and build upon the cultural and linguistic assets students bring to their education in safe and affirming school climates. Educators value and build strong family, community, and school partnerships.

Principle Two: Intellectual Quality of Instruction and Meaningful Access

English learners engage in intellectually rich, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that foster high levels of English proficiency. These experiences integrate language development, literacy, and content learning and provide access for comprehension and participation through native language instruction and scaffolding. English learners have meaningful access to a full standards-based and relevant curriculum and the opportunity to develop proficiency in English and other languages.

Principle Three: System Conditions that Support Effectiveness

Each school system level (state, county, district, school, pre-school) has leaders and educators who are knowledgeable of and responsive to the strengths and needs of English learners and their communities and who utilize valid assessment and other data systems to inform instruction and continuous improvement. Each level of the system provides resources and tiered support to ensure vital programs and build the capacity of teachers and staff to leverage the strengths and meet the needs of English learners.

Principle Four: Alignment and Articulation Within and Across Systems

English learners experience a coherent, articulated, and aligned set of practices and pathways across grade levels and educational segments, beginning with a strong foundation in early childhood and appropriate identification of strengths and needs, continuing through to reclassification, graduation, higher education, and career opportunities. These pathways foster the skills, language(s), literacy, and knowledge students need for college- and career-readiness and participation in a global, diverse, multilingual, twenty-first-century world.

For more information: click on the link. English Learner Roadmap