SDLA Compliance Resource
Present the Draft LCAP to the PAC and Applicable English Learner Parent Advisory Committee
An implementation guide for establishing the correct advisory bodies, presenting the complete Local Control and Accountability Plan for meaningful review, receiving comments in separate public meetings, and preserving evidence before adoption.
In Plain Language: PAC means Parent Advisory Committee. Before adopting an LCAP, a district or county office must give its formally established PAC the complete plan for review and comment. If the English learner enrollment threshold is met, it must separately do the same with an English Learner Parent Advisory Committee. The superintendent must respond in writing to comments from each applicable committee.
Why this matters
A general town hall, survey, PTA meeting, DELAC presentation, or board hearing does not automatically satisfy the committee-review requirement. The governing board must establish the applicable body, its membership must qualify, the full LCAP must be presented, and the committee must have a real opportunity to review and comment.
Joint ownership
Governance owner: governing board establishes the committees. Accountable presenter: district or county superintendent. Process owner: LCAP coordinator. Participation partners: family engagement, multilingual education, special education, student services, translation/accessibility staff, committee chairs, and clerk or records staff.
Which committees are required?
| Committee | When required | Core composition | Required role |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAC Parent Advisory Committee | Required for every school district and county office of education. | Majority parents or legal guardians of currently enrolled pupils; includes parents of low-income pupils, English learners, foster youth, and pupils with disabilities. If the LEA serves middle or high school pupils, add two full student members or operate a qualifying student advisory committee. | Advise the governing board and superintendent; review and comment on the complete proposed LCAP or annual update. |
| English learner PAC English Learner Parent Advisory Committee | Required when enrollment includes at least 15 percent English learners and at least 50 English learners. | Majority parents of pupils who are English learners, including parents of long-term English learners; qualifying existing committees may serve. | Review and comment on the complete proposed LCAP or annual update, including relevant language-acquisition and language-program matters. |
Review and comment workflow
- Early in the cycleVerify lawful establishment and membership.Locate the governing-board action, current roster, membership evidence, bylaws, student representation decision, and English learner threshold calculation.
- Before presentationPrepare the complete accessible draft.Provide the entire LCAP—not only goals, highlights, slides, or selected actions—with enough time and support for informed review.
- At least 72 hours before each meetingPost a Greene Act-compliant notice and agenda.Identify the date, time, location, and business to be discussed or acted upon; provide a public-comment opportunity.
- In separate meetingsPresent to each applicable committee.PAC, English learner PAC, and any student advisory committee meetings must be held separately. Explain the plan, answer questions, and allow review and comment.
- After each reviewCapture comments faithfully.Separate committee comments from staff explanations, public remarks, and individual member questions.
- Before adoptionIssue the superintendent’s written responses.Respond to comments received from each applicable committee and retain the response with the meeting and adoption record.
District and county-office distinction
| Control | School district | County office of education |
|---|---|---|
| Committee authority | Education Code section 52063 | Education Code section 52069 |
| Presenter and respondent | Superintendent of the school district | County superintendent of schools |
| Adopting body | District governing board | County board of education |
| Plan under review | The district's LCAP and annual update | The COE's own LCAP and annual update for the programs and pupils it serves |
Charter-school boundary
Charter schools generally follow Education Code section 47606.5, which requires consultation with specified educational partners but does not simply make every district/COE committee rule universal. However, a charter school or single-school district using its LCAP as its School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) must satisfy the applicable educational-partner requirements in section 52062(a), including the formal committees when required. Confirm the charter's planning model before assigning a committee control.
Preflight checklist
- Board resolution or minutes establishing each applicable committee.
- Current roster and evidence that the PAC and English learner PAC meet their distinct composition rules.
- Documented English learner percentage and count used to determine whether the English learner PAC is required.
- Documented choice of two PAC student members or a separate student advisory committee when middle or high school pupils are served.
- Complete, accessible LCAP draft and translations or interpretation needed for meaningful participation.
- Separate meeting dates, Greene Act notices, agendas, public-comment access, and attendance records.
- A defined method for capturing committee comments and routing them for written response.
Evidence to retain
- Committee-establishment records, bylaws, rosters, member eligibility, and student terms.
- English learner threshold calculation and English learner PAC composition evidence.
- Complete draft presented, distribution date, accessible versions, translations, and presentation materials.
- Separate agendas, 72-hour posting evidence, minutes, attendance, public comments, and committee comments.
- Superintendent’s written responses and evidence of delivery before governing-board consideration.
- Adoption agenda, public hearing record, final adopted LCAP, and explanation of changes resulting from feedback.
Official guidance and help
- CDE LCFF Frequently Asked Questions: Parent and Community EngagementCommittee requirements, composition, meeting separation, review duties, and Greene Act guidance.
- Education Code section 52062District presentation, comment, response, public review, and adoption requirements.
- Education Code section 52063District PAC, student advisory, and English learner PAC requirements.
- Education Code section 52068Parallel county-office presentation and response requirements.
- CDE LCAP Template InstructionsCurrent engagement and adoption instructions by LEA type.
Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify current statutes, regulations, enrollment data, committee establishment records, local procedures, and the State Board-adopted LCAP template before acting.