West Contra Costa Unified School District
The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) was established in 1965. It covers the cities of El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, and Hercules and the unincorporated areas of Bayview-Montalvin Manor, East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, North Richmond, and Tara Hills.
We provide the highest quality education to enable all students to make positive life choices, strengthen our community, and successfully participate in a diverse and global society.
The belief that all students can achieve at high levels of proficiency and that the effects of institutionalized racism can be mitigated is central to how equity is viewed in West Contra Costa Unified School District.
Multilingual District Advisory Committee
Each district with 51 or more English learners, regardless of their language, must form a functioning Multilingual Advisory Committee (MDAC). The purpose of this committee is to advise the district governing board on issues related to English learners (ELs).
Meetings are open to any interested parties. In addition, each school in the District with more than 20 ELs is required to send a representative to this Committee. If the school has an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC), the ELAC chooses the delegate. If the School Site Council (SSC) has assumed the ELAC responsibilities, then they are responsible for choosing the representative.
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Descriptions
An ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee) can be a great asset to a school’s overall environment and to student’s academic achievement. Every effort should be made to offer English learners parents/guardians the opportunity to participate in their child’s education through this vehicle. It is a meeting place that parents/guardians can use as a platform to express their concerns and ideas to the School Site Council (SSC) regarding English learners. ELAC covers broad areas for ELs, such as legal issues involved in working with English learner students and training on how parents/guardians can teach and help their children at home.
Each school with 21 or more English learners (also known as LEP students) in attendance, regardless of language, must form a functioning ELAC by October of each year. (Legal references: E.C. Section 62002.5; Former E.C. Sections 52176; 52168; and Title 5, CCR Section 4312).
On the committee, the percentage of parents/guardians of English learners is to be at least the same as that of English learners at the school. At WCCUSD, the ELAC is required to have: a) 5 parents/guardians on the ELAC, b) Principal or designee, c) teachers of ELs d) other school staff (optional), e) other parents/guardians (optional). After the formation and training of the ELAC, the ELAC may delegate its legal responsibilities to the School Site Council.
