Title
Annual Approval of Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Membership
Office of Student, Family and Community Engagement
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Brief Description:
description
(Annual Approval of Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Membership) Recommends approval of prospective members included in Attachment A to serve on the District Community Advisory Committee, for the identified terms and as required by the California Education Code, Section 56191.
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Recommendation
Action Proposed:
Approve those persons included in Attachment A for a term of membership on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the identified terms of 2026-2028, and alternates to serve on the CAC for the 2026-2027 school year.
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Body
Background:
The CAC serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Education and the Division of Special Education on the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Local Plan.
The California Education Code, Sections 56190-56193, requires each SELPA to establish a CAC to fulfill specific responsibilities. In addition, it requires that the members of the CAC be appointed by the Board of Education using selection procedures described in the SELPA Local Plan. CAC members serve a two-year term, which is staggered to ensure that no more than one half of the membership serves the first year of the term in any one year.
The CAC must be composed of the following: parents of individuals with exceptional needs enrolled in public or private schools (must serve as committee majority), parents of other students enrolled in school, students and adults with disabilities, regular education teachers, special education teachers, and other school personnel, representatives of other public and private agencies, and people concerned with the needs of individuals with exceptional needs. CAC bylaws also state that “CAC members must live, work, attend, or be the parent/guardian of a student attending a school within the LAUSD SELPA.”
For the last decade, prospective members of the CAC were identified through the ranking of applications, with an appointment committee assigning points to applications based on a rubric. During the development of the 2024-2027 SELPA Local Plan, CAC members requested elections for membership to be implemented in place of an application process. The SELPA Local Plan language changed to allow for membership elections to occur in much the same way they transpire for other state-mandated District central committees identified in the California Education Code. This year, vacancies for the seats of parents of students with exceptional needs were filled through virtual elections with in-person technical support in each Region and online for the Virtual Academies. The elections for general education teacher, other school staff and alternate for the seat of a student with a disability or 504 plan occurred online in the evening. The vacancies for the other categories of parent of a student in the general education program, and alternate only for the seats of adult with disabilities, community members, and community-based organizations were filled at a virtual election with in-person technical support in a central location at the Office of Student, Family, and Community Engagement.
Vacancies for membership on the CAC were advertised on District websites; through special education parent trainings and bi-weekly Family Academy webinars; through LAUSD’s Department of Transition Services (DOTS) staff and Region special education teams; and emails, voice, and text messages sent to Los Angeles Unified families and additionally to parents or guardians of students with exceptional needs. Membership vacancies were also advertised via flyers and announcements during CAC, PAC, and DELAC meetings; at Region Ambassador sessions and various Region workshops; through the Office of Development and Civic Engagement; and sent directly to each Board of Education staff via email for distribution. The Division of Special Education and the Office of Student, Family, and Community Engagement held 12 elections during March. The proposed persons being submitted for appointment to the CAC were elected by their peers, as required by the California Education Code, and were verified as meeting eligibility requirements
According to the California Education Code, Section 56194, the CAC addresses the responsibilities defined in the local plan as described below, including, but not limited to, all the following:
a. Advising the policy and administrative entity of the special education local plan area regarding
the development, amendment, and review of the local plan. The entity shall review and consider comments from the community advisory committee.
b. Recommending annual 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.
d. Encouraging community involvement in the development and review of the local plan.
e. Supporting activities on behalf of individuals with exceptional needs.
f. Assisting in parent awareness of the importance of regular school attendance.
g. Supporting community involvement in the parent advisory committee established pursuant to
Section 52063 to encourage the inclusion of parents of individuals with exceptional
needs to the extent these pupils also fall within one or more of the definitions in Section 42238.01”.
The Office of Student, Family, and Community Engagement and the Division of Special Education are requesting a motion by the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education to appoint members to the CAC, a state-mandated committee established to advise the Board of Education and the Division of Special Education on the SELPA Local Plan.
The individuals in Attachment A were elected by their peers at a virtual election (with in-person tech support for families and community). They are recommended to be the new representatives of the CAC for a two-year term, or as alternates for a one-year term.
Expected Outcomes:
Approval by the Board of Education of those persons whose names have been submitted for CAC membership will enable the CAC to remain compliant within the guidelines established in the California Education Code, Sections 56190-56194.
Board Options and Consequences:
Approving the requested membership will enable the CAC to continue fulfilling the responsibilities as defined in the California Education Code, Section 56194, and in the SELPA Local Plan for service. If not approved, the District will be out of compliance with state requirements, and sanctions may be issued.
Policy Implications:
This action supports the Board’s initiative to enhance parent engagement and is aligned to the Strategic Plan Pillar 3: Engagement and Collaboration. There are no changes to the existing policies of the District through this action.
Budget Impact:
None
Student Impact:
None
Equity Impact:
None
Issues and Analysis:
California Education Code, Sections 56190-56194, sets forth state requirements for the selection and appointment of members for the CAC.
Attachments:
Attachment A - List of 2026-2028 two-year term candidates, 2026-2027 alternates, and members completing
the last year of the 2025-2027 term on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
Submitted:
04/16/26
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, APPROVED & PRESENTED BY:
______________________________ _____________________________
ANDRES E. CHAIT JANA CARTER
Acting Superintendent Chief of Communication, Engagement & Collaboration
Communication, Engagement & Collaboration
REVIEWED BY: APPROVED & PRESENTED BY:
______________________________ ______________________________
DEVORA NAVERA REED ANTONIO PLASCENCIA
General Counsel Sr. Director of Engagement & Partnerships
Communication, Engagement & Collaboration
___ Approved as to form.
REVIEWED BY:
______________________________
KURT E. JOHN
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
___ Approved as to budget impact statement.