900. PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL 901. PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL Date Adopted: 11/20/08 Revised: 3/17/16 Section 1 The Board of Trustees of Philadelphia Academy Charter School is dedicated to development of an effective program of parent participation in achievement of its goal of high achievement for all students. Therefore, the Board herewith authorizes the creation of Parent Advisory Council composed of parents of students attending Philadelphia Academy Charter School. The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is an action team for partnership between family and school in planning, implementing and evaluating ways to improve student academic achievements promote safe school environments and create positive student educational experiences. Section 2 Composition. The Parent Advisory Council (hereinafter referred to as “PAC”) shall be composed of not more than 10 parents selected as follows: (a) Commencing with the 2008-2009 school year, membership on the PAC shall be determined through elections conducted under the direction of the Board of Trustees and thereafter by the outgoing PAC members. Such that members shall represent the proportionate distribution of students in grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12, a Representative from the Executive Board of the K-12 Home and School Association to achieve a balance of participation. Any parent may submit his/her name as a nominee and shall be included on the ballot for the student’s grade group of attendance. Additionally, only one parent per household may seek election in any school year. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Principals from both campuses should serve as ex-officio members with no vote. (b) Members of the Board of Trustees shall be ex-officio members of the PAC and may attend any meeting of the PAC. Board Members shall not have a vote on the PAC. Qualifications of Members Parents of students attending Philadelphia Academy Charter School shall be eligible for membership on the PAC. Only one parent per household may seek election in any school year. Families with multiple children in multiple grade groups must choose one level to represent on the PAC. No persons other than Representative from the Executive Board of the K-12 Home and School Association may be on both the Home & School 9-1

Association and the PAC Board. No member of the Board of Trustees may be a voting member of the PAC. Term of Office and Schedule of Elections Each member of the PAC shall serve for a term of two years, commencing in November of each year. A member shall cease to be a member of the PAC upon the graduation, transfer or other termination of their child’s attendance at Philadelphia Academy Charter School. Any member may seek re-election once. After serving two (2) consecutive terms a parent may not run again for two (2) years. Elections shall be conducted during the month of October of each school year and election shall be by rank from the candidate with the highest number of votes in each grade group category to the lowest until all available seats are filled. Votes shall be tallied by a sub-committee of the then sitting PAC members with the CEO or designee serving as monitor of elections. If the child moves from one grade group to the next during the two year term, the PAC member will also move up from one grade group to the next, so that may open up a position representing a lower grade. Section 3 Function The PAC shall conduct such activities as will contribute to the growth of Philadelphia Academy Charter School and its students’ achievement. Activities shall include: •

Development of its own procedures for operation, consistent with law and subject to the same “Sunshine Law” requirements as the Board of Trustees.

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Provide parent representation project to assist the board and CEO in identifying and evaluating possible new funding from any grant or award program and actively coordinate with all ongoing school fundraisers.

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Provide parent representation for all Federal Grants. (Title I, IDEA B, 21st Century)

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Sponsor such fund raising activities or family events as may be permissible by law and consistent with the orderly operation of Philadelphia Academy Charter School in collaboration with the K-12 Home and School Association. All fundraising shall first require the consent of the CEO. Under no circumstance shall any student be asked or required to conduct door-to-door sales unless under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.

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Monitor parent compliance with volunteer service requirements and take action to engage as many parents as possible in meaningful service to the School.

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Coordination of the identification and provision of volunteer support in all areas of school operations consistent with Board policies and needs identified collaboratively with the CEO.

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Receive and work with the school administration to resolve parent concerns presented to the PAC. Such concerns should not be parent – teacher issues concerning a student – those concerns should be presented directly to the teacher / principal by such parent. In no instance should any disciplinary concerns be brought to or addressed by the PAC. These are issues that should be handled directly by school administrators.

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The role of the PAC shall be to facilitate communication and solutions of parent concerns through open dialogue with the administration and Board. The appropriate order of contact for the PAC in handling concerns would be as follows: Ø School Administrator/ Principals Ø CEO Ø Board of Trustees

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The Parent Advisory's Council's purpose is to communicate ideas that help our schools parental community. By presenting suggestions to the administration so that actions may be taken, while also encouraging and enhancing parental involvement in their student’s school life.

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It is the intent of the PAC to Suggest and Advise but not to make Policy.

Section 4 Meetings The PAC shall meet at least once monthly and shall publish its schedule to all parents of children attending Philadelphia Academy Charter School, the administration and the Board of Trustees. Section 5 Relationship to the Board of Trustees The PAC shall function as a separate organization from the Board of Trustees and subject to operation consistent with and supportive of the mission and goals of the School. Recommendations and suggestions shall not be binding upon the CEO or Board unless officially adopted by the Board of Trustees.

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TO THE EXTENT THAT ANYTHING IN THIS POLICY COULD BE CONSTRUED TO CONFLICT WITH APPLICABLE STATE AND/OR FEDERAL LAWS, THE APPLICABLE STATE AND/OR FEDERAL LAWS CONTROL

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