What is a School Advisory Council? The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a school-based group intended to represent the school, the community, and those persons closest to the students. The group shares responsibility for guiding the school toward continuous improvement. The district school board is responsible, by Florida law, for establishing an advisory council for each school in the district and shall develop procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council members. Each SAC shall include in its name the words “school advisory council.” For further information, please see: Section 1001.452(1)(a), Florida Statutes.

What is the role of the School Advisory Council? The School Advisory Council is responsible for final decision making at the school relating to the implementation of the provisions of the annual School Improvement Plan (SIP). The SAC assists in the annual preparation and evaluation of both the SIP and the school’s annual budget. For further information, please see: Section 1001.452(1)(a), Florida Statutes.

Who serves on the School Advisory Council? Beginning July 1, 2008, it is a requirement that the majority of the members of the School Advisory Council are persons who are not employed by the school district. A SAC should be composed of the principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education support employees, students, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school. Certain members are elected by their peers, while business and community members are appointed, and the principal automatically serves. Only students in secondary schools serve on a SAC. For further information, please see: Section 1001.452(1)(a), Florida Statutes.