Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

About the CAC

Lines of Communication Include the Following:

• The Community Advisory committee directly communicates and interacts with the Pupil Services/SELPA Director relative to his/her assigned duties and responsibilities.

• Relationships between the Pupil Services/SELPA Director and the Community Advisory Committee are reciprocal and mutually supportive in nature, and in accordance with communication guidelines and procedures established by the Orange Unified School District Board of Education Superintendent.

• The Community Advisory committee communicates through the Pupil Services/SELPA Director to the Orange Unified School District board of Education.

• Written communication or other literature sent to legislators from the Orange Unified School District Community Advisory Committee is approved by the Pupil Services/SELPA Director and communicated to the Board of Education as appropriate.

1. Procedures for appointment of members to the Community Advisory Committee (E.C. 56191-56193)

The members of the Community Advisory Committee are appointed and approved by the Governing Board of the district. Members are selected for a term of two years and are annually staggered.

Procedures:

On or before October 1 of each year, an analysis is made by the SELPA Director of vacancies in the CAC for the ensuing school year. These vacancies are confirmed by the current CAC Chairperson before November 1. The vacancies are announced by the local district needing members through at least one of the following:

• Local community newspapers
• School newspapers
• Other methods as agreed upon by the CAC Chairperson and the SELPA Director and approved by local districts.

The announcement invites interested applicants, explains the purpose and function of the CAC and provides a deadline for applications and/or interviews by the Pupil Services/ SELPA Director and C.A.C. Chairperson and other members as deemed necessary.

The majority of such a committee is composed of parents of pupils enrolled in schools participating in the local plan, and at least a majority of such parents shall be parents of individuals with exceptional needs. (E.C. 56193) Every attempt is made to ensure that membership reflects the socio-economic and ethnic structure of the district, as well as representation from several identified exceptionalities.

Active membership requires consistent attendance at meetings. Prolonged absences (3 consecutive meetings) or inability to attend scheduled membership meetings will be cause for review of membership status by the Pupil Services/SELPA Director and the C.A.C. Chairperson.

Membership of this committee is approved by the Orange Unified School District Board of Education.

2. The Community Advisory Committee Responsibilities (E.C. 56194 (a) include, but need not be limited to the following:

a. Advising the policy and administrative entity of the district, special education services region, or county office, regarding the development, amendment, and review of the local plan. The C.A.C. directly communicates and interacts with the Pupil Services/SELPA Director to the Orange Unified School District Board of Education.

A.C.A.C. designee(s) is appointed by the C.A.C. Chairperson to assist in the development and review of the local plan. A draft of the plan is provided to C.A.C. members for review. Their comments are solicited at either a regularly scheduled meeting or at a meeting called especially to review the plan. These comments are reviewed by the local plan committee to determine the appropriateness of their inclusion.

b. Recommending annual priorities to be addressed by the plan.

At any of the C.A.C. scheduled meetings and/or meetings of the Pupil Services/SELPA Director and C.A.C. Chairperson, members may recommend priorities to be addressed by the plan.

c. Assisting in parent education and in recruiting parents and other volunteers who may contribute to the implementation of the plan.

The C.A.C. plans and conducts at least 2 parent training programs each year. The members select the topic for the program based on concerns raised by the members or other parents. Additionally, the C.A.C. encourages parent participation in district-developed parent education and parent volunteer programs.

d. Encouraging community involvement in the development and review of the local plan for special education through in-services and general C.A.C. meetings.

e. Supporting activities on behalf of individuals with exceptional needs.

At each meeting members are given an opportunity to announce parent and professional workshops which are available. Reports on conferences/workshops that have been attended are also given. Individual members participate in other activities and community events. The C.A.C. publishes a newsletter to inform parents of activities within the district and surrounding areas that are of interest to parents/pupils.

f. Assisting in parent awareness of the importance of regular school attendance through the School Attendance Review Board (S.A.R.B. newsletter and other activities as developed by the C.A.C.)

3. Committee Operations

a. The operating year of the committee is from August 1 to July 31. Regular meetings are held quarterly. A list of meeting dates, times, and locations for the year is published and posted in appropriate locations. Notice is given of special or called meetings, or changes in regular meetings at least five (5) days in advance. The general public is invited to attend all meetings and functions of the committee.

b. Terms of membership is reviewed at the first meeting of each year.

c. Officers - the committee has as its officers a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary elected by the membership.

(1) The Chairperson is a parent or guardian of an individual with exceptional needs, elected by the membership, serving a one-year term.

(2) The Vice-Chairperson is the parent or guardian of an individual with exceptional needs, elected by the membership, serving a one-year term and succeeds as Council Chairperson the following year.

(3) The Secretary is elected by the membership, serving a one-year term.

d. Standing Committees - standing committees are organized and maintained, as the membership deems necessary. These committees may include, but not be limited to:

(1) Legislative Committee
(2) Community Liaison Committee
(3) Public Information Committee
(4) Transition Committee
(5) Least Restrictive Environment Committee
(6) Policy/Procedure Committee
(7) Newsletter Committee

4. Evaluation
The Committee is in compliance with the California State Education Code, California Administrative Code, Title 5 regulations, Senate Bill 1870, Assembly Bill 3075, and Public Law 101-467.

a. The Committee is in full compliance with Section 504 of Public Law 93-112, relating to access to meetings for disabled individuals and provisions for interpreters for the deaf, with at least 5 school days prior notic, for the committee and all memebers of the community who wish to attend.

b. Public notification of the existence of the committee activities and all meeting dates may be posted at all school sites and sent to news papaers, radio, and tleevision media upon written request.

c. Minutes of the committee meetings are on record in the Orange Unified School District Pupil Services Office and available to the public upon request.

d. An annual report, including an evaluation of all activities of the Community Advisory Committtee may be submitted to the Pupil Sersvices/SELPA Director and then submitted to the Orange Unified School District Board of Education on a yearly basis and available to the public when deemed necessary by the Pupil Services/SELPA Director.

e. The Community Advisory Committtee is informed and involved in the annual evaluation and audit of all special education programs within the Orange Unified School District by the Pupil Services/SELPA Director.

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