Parents and adult caregivers of PUSD students can get involved and make a positive impact on school improvement by joining school and district leadership groups. Parents and members of the public are invited and welcome to attend meetings of meetings of district and school advisory committees, which are open to the public.  

District  Level

District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)

• The California Education Code requires a functioning DELAC in which at least 51 percent of the members are parents of English Learners.  All official DELAC members must be members of a school ELAC.  The DELAC advises the district and provides an annual training for ELAC officers on their roles and responsibilities.  Meetings are held the third Monday of most months, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Edison Professional Development Center, located at 119 W. Palm St., Altadena. Chair: Maria Hernandez Staff Contact: Language Assessment & Development Department

 LCAP Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

• Parent Advisory Committee members represent the student groups targeted by California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and review and comment on the district’s annual Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) as mandated by state law. Members serve three-year terms.

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) 

• Mandated by California law, the CAC advises the district on the development of its Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Local Plan and Annual Services and Budget Plans. The CAC recommends annual priorities to be addressed by the plan, assists in parent education and the recruitment of parents and other volunteers, encourages community involvement and supports activities on behalf of individuals with exceptional needs.

African American Parent Council (AAPC)

• Chartered by the PUSD Board of Education, the African-American Parent Council (AAPC) is a coalition of parents, students, schools, and communities that honors and embraces the identity and experiences of PUSD’s African-American families, advocates for the cultural acceptance of all, and mobilizes and engages all stakeholders to transform the system to ensure a high quality education for every student.  

Foster Youth PAC

• Our purpose is for foster youth, guardians, parents and advocates to assist students in foster care to achieve academic success

PTA Council of PUSD

The PTA Council of Pasadena is the official name and parent group of all PTA units in the Pasadena Unified School District organized under the authority of the California State PTA for the purpose of collaboration, leadership, training and coordination of the efforts of PTA member units. The Council generously volunteers countless hours of service to Pasadena public schools, while providing continuous support and assistance to units, leadership training, and serves as a voice for PUSD PTA members. ptacouncilpusd.org

School Level

English Learner Advisory Committees (ELAC)

• California K-12 public schools with 21 or more English learners must form an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). The ELAC, whose percentage of EL parents on the committee must mirror the percentage of EL students at the school, is responsible for advising the principal and staff on programs and services for English learners and the School Site Council on the development of the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).  ELACs advise the school in the development of the school's needs assessment; the school's annual language census; and ways to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.

School Site Councils (SSC)

• California public school improvement plans are developed by a school site councils (SSC), composed of the principal; representatives of teachers; other school personnel; parents of students attending the school; and, in secondary schools, students.  Representatives of teachers, other school personnel, parents and students must be elected by their peers. School site councils measure the effectiveness of improvement strategies at the school; seek input from school advisory committees; reaffirm or revise school goals; revise improvement strategies and expenditures; recommend the approved single plan for student achievement (SPSA) to the governing board; and monitor implementation of the SPSA. 

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

• Many schools have groups of active and generous parents who support learning, organize events, foster partnerships and volunteer on campus to help the school in a variety of ways. Check with your school to join your school's PTA today.  PTAs are independent membership organizations and are supported by the PTA Council of PUSD, which has a 100-year legacy of serving Pasadena-area public schools.

Affiliated Parent Groups

Collaborate PASadena

• Embracing the vision that the children of Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre all grow up in a safe, stable and supportive environment that prepares them for success in school and in life, Collaborate PASadena is an initiative of the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Unified School District that works toward building better working relationships, accountability and communication. A wide array of representatives from the City, PUSD and nonprofit organizations meet regularly in Work Groups addressing five key areas: Early Learning, Healthy Families, Parent Engagement, Student Success and Supportive Communities. All groups are open to anyone interested in working together toward better outcomes for children. Go to www.collaboratepasadena.org for more information and to become involved.

Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF)

• For more than 45 years, the Pasadena Educational Foundation has been committed to building dynamic community partnerships to support our Pasadena Unified School District schools. Being a vital part of the community enables PEF to provide essential resources and enrichment opportunities to every public school student in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.

  Find out how you can get involved with PEF. http://pased.org

 Pasadena Education Network (PEN)

• PEN is an independent grassroots non-profit organization that promotes informed family participation in public schools for the benefit of all children in our community. Founded by parents in 2006, PEN is now a network of more than 1,300 families that are enrolled in or considering enrolling in schools throughout Pasadena Unified School District. PEN provides unbiased information, parent education programs, and services that make it easy for parents to explore and evaluate our public schools, and to engage as effective partners with their own schools and with the district. We believe that all children benefit from an education that is culturally, socio-economically, and racially diverse, and that families need easy access to credible information about public schools from a trusted source so that they can make informed decisions about their children’s education. PEN is committed to providing parents with the tools and skills that they need to not only serve their own children’s interests, but to serve the common good of all students. Visit www.penfamilies.org to learn more or to join our growing network.