AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment
AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment
District Accountability/School Accountability Committees
The Board of Education accepts its ultimate responsibility for the academic accomplishments of district students. Consistent with this responsibility and as required by law, the Board shall adopt and maintain an accountability process to measure the adequacy and efficiency of the educational program. To that end, the Board of Education shall establish and maintain a District Accountability Committee and School Accountability Committee, as advisory committees to the Board, the membership, powers and duties of which shall be in accordance with applicable law and District policy.
The District Accountability Committee and School Accountability Committees shall have those powers and duties prescribed by state law.
District Accountability Committee
Purpose
The District Accountability Committee (DAC) offers parents/guardians, students, community members and staff the opportunity to become involved with the improvement of the educational system.
One of the tasks of DAC is to provide input for the annual report to district patrons. The input shall summarize the accomplishments of DAC.
The Board and DAC shall, at least annually, cooperatively determine the areas and issues, in addition to budget issues, that DAC shall study and the issues on which it may make recommendations to the Board. DAC is obligated to respond to the charge(s)/areas of study which shall be cooperatively determined by the Board and DAC annually.
Membership
Each local school board shall appoint or create a process for the election of a school district accountability committee that shall consist of, at minimum:
- At least three parents of students enrolled in the district public schools;
- At least one teacher who is employed by the school district;
- At least one school administrator who is employed by the school district; and
- At least one person who is involved in business or industry in the community within the school district boundaries.
The Board believes that the District and its schools benefit from diverse representation in District committees. In making appointments of parents/guardians that reflect the student populations significantly represented in the District and its schools, such “student populations” may include, but need not be limited to students who are members of non-Caucasian races, those who are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals, those who are English language learners, migrant children, students identified as having a disability, and gifted children. The Board expects committee members and supporting District staff to work proactively to include those with non-English language or communication and accommodation needs.
The Board shall appoint annually persons to DAC. In making these appointments, the Board shall ensure, to the extent practicable, Voting Members of DAC shall consist of at least:
- the parent/guardian of a District student with a disability;
- the parent/guardian of a student in the District’s Gifted and Talented Program;
- the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a charter school authorized by the Board (LCS);
- the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a charter school authorized by the Board (NVCS);
- the parent/guardian of a District student who is an English language learner;
- the parent/guardian of a District student who is an ethnic minority;
- the parent/guardian of a student in the District’s Early Childhood Program;
- the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a District elementary school (non-charter, non-K-8);
- the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a District middle school (non-charter); \
- the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a District K-8 school (non-charter)
- the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a District high school (non-charter);
- a parent/guardian of a student in the District, at-large (non-charter);
- a student enrolled in a District high school (non-charter);
- a community member who is involved in business or industry in the community within the District’s boundaries;
- a community member who does not have school-aged children in the District, at-large community member;
- a secondary school District administrator;
- an elementary school District administrator;
- a District teacher, at-large; and
- an employee in the District’s Early Childhood Program.
A person who is employed by the district or related to a district employee shall not be eligible to serve as a parent/guardian on DAC. “Related” is defined as the person’s spouse, son, daughter, sister, brother, mother or father. If, however, the district makes a good faith effort and is unable to identify a sufficient number of parents/guardians that meet these criteria, a person may serve as a parent/guardian on DAC and also be employed by the district or related to a district employee.
If the Board chooses to increase the number of persons on DAC, it shall ensure that the number of parents/guardians appointed exceeds the number of representatives from the group with the next highest representation.
The members of the DAC will serve one-year terms.
Committee members may be removed from office in accordance with District Policy BDF. The Board can also remove a committee member at any time for any reason it deems sufficient.
Officers
DAC shall elect a parent/guardian representative to serve a chairperson and another parent/guardian representative to serve as vice-chairperson. The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be elected annually at the last meeting of the school year. The chairperson shall preside at all committee meetings and establish the agenda. The vice chairperson shall preside in the absence of the chairperson. The DAC shall create a process for the election of officers.
The secretary shall take minutes for all committee meetings and maintain attendance records, minutes, agendas, and other pertinent papers.
Terms of office for the officers of DAC shall be one year beginning in June.
Meetings
DAC shall establish a schedule of meetings and adopt general rules for its operation. A regular meeting shall be held once a month from August through April or September through May as determined by the DAC. Additional meetings may be called as needed. All DAC meetings shall be preceded by public notice in a consistent manner throughout the year and shall be open to the public.
Quorum and Voting
A simple majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the validity of any vote. A majority of those present and eligible to vote shall be necessary to elect and to decide a question.
Amendment of General Rules of Operation
The general rules of operation may be amended by submitting the proposed change in writing at any regular meeting. A vote on the proposed change will be held at the next meeting.
District Liaison
The Superintendent of Schools shall designate a District administrator to serve as a non-voting ex officio member and co-chairperson of the DAC. This District administrator shall facilitate the DAC meetings, coordinate its work, and shall serve as a communication link between the Superintendent and the DAC.
School Accountability Committee
Purpose
The school accountability committee shall develop and recommend priorities for spending school funds, which the principal shall consider in formulating the school’s budget requests of the Board and the DAC each fiscal year. Each SAC shall work to increase the parent/guardian engagement in the District and its school and shall perform such additional work as requested by the DAC.
Membership
Each school accountability committee (SAC) shall consist of at least:
- three parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school
- one teacher who provides instruction at the school
- the school principal or designee
- one person from the community
- one adult member of an organization of parents/guardians, teachers, and students recognized by the school
A person may not serve more than one of the required membership roles on the SAC. If, after making good-faith efforts, a principal or an organization of parents/guardians, teachers and students is unable to find sufficient number of persons who are willing to serve on SAC, the principal, with advice from the organization of parents/guardians, teacher, and students, may establish an alternate membership plan for SAC. Such alternate plan shall reflect the required representation stated above as much as practicable.
Members of SAC shall be appointed by the principal of each school for a two-year term. The principal shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the persons appointed reflect the student populations significantly represented within the school.
If the principal chooses to increase the number of persons on any SAC, the principal shall ensure that the number of parents/guardians appointed exceeds the number of representatives from the group with the next highest representation.
A member may be removed from the SAC prior to the expiration of their term for cause, upon recommendation of the principal and approval of the Superintendent. Committee members may also be removed from office in accordance with District Policy BDF.
Officers
The SAC shall select a parent/guardian representative to serve as chairperson and the principal or principal’s designee shall serve as co-chair of their school’s SAC, who shall serve a term of two years.
The principal or principal’s designee shall appoint a secretary to take the minutes of the SAC meetings, which shall be maintained by the principal.
Meetings
Each SAC shall establish a schedule of meetings and adopt general rules for its operation. Each SAC shall meet at least four times each school year. Notices for SAC meetings shall be posted in the school.
Adopted August 1997
Revised April 7, 2004
Revised August 17, 2011
Revised May 21, 2014
Revised June 3, 2020
Revised December 18, 2024
Legal References
- C.R.S. § 22-2-117 (waivers from State Board of Education)
- C.R.S. § 22-11-101 et seq. (Educational Accreditation Act of 2009)
- C.R.S. § 22-11-301 and 302 (district accountability committee)
- C.R.S. § 22-11-401 and 402 (school accountability committees)
- C.R.S. § 24-6-402 (open meeting law)
- 1 CCR 301-1, Rules 2202-R-1.00 et seq. (accreditation rules)
Cross References
- ADA, Thompson School District Goals
- AEA, Standards Based Education
- AED, School District Accreditation
- BDF, Advisory Committees to the Board, and sub codes
- IEA*, Improvement of Instruction
- KDA, Parent Involvement in Education
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