Site English Language Subcommittee (SELLS)

Due: October 31st (or last Business Day)

Purpose

As a district with more than 31 SELLS', OUSD uses a system of proportional regional representation for the DELLS. Representatives from SELLS in each School Board district serve on the DELLS; the number of seats for each district is in proportion to the number of English Language Learners in that district.

Who is Required to Have SELLS:

The legislation states: A school site with 21 or more English Language Learners.

Responsibilities of SELLS:

Advising the principal and staff in the development of a site plan for English learners and submitting the plan to the School Site Council (SSC) for consideration of inclusion in the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).
Assisting in the development of the schoolwide needs assessment.
Ways to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.

STEP 1: Learn about SELLS

Where to Start?

See the SELLS Formation Guidelines

SELLS Formation Guidelines - PowerPoint

Sample SELLS Document Submission

SELLS Overview - Video

SELLS Formation 101 - 1631337953991.mp4

STEP 2: Preparing for your Meeting

SELLS Downloadable Checklist

STEP 3: Conducting Your SELLS Meeting

Agenda Item: SELLS Training

Option 1: Present SELLS Training Presentation

Conduct your own SELLS Training with materials provided, or contact your Office of Equity parent engagement liaison to do the training for you.

SELLS Training Powerpoint

Option 2: Review SELLS Quickguide to Provide Overview

Shortened version of full SELLS Training with materials, meets basic requirements for SELLS training.

SELLS QuickGuide

Agenda Item: Discuss SELLS Formation Options

SELLS Formation Training - Powerpoint

Agenda Item: Peer Election of Members (Requirement for Formation Option 1, Stand Alone SELLS Only)

ELL Peer Elections (Snapshot)

Who Can Vote:

Only parents or guardians of ELL students
ELL parents elect ELL parent representatives

Committee Requirements:

Committee must reflect same percentage as ELL student population
Example: 30% ELL students = 30% ELL parents on committee

Peer Elections Matter:

Ensures authentic community representation
ELL families choose their own advocates
Democratic process builds trust and engagement

Key Outcome:

Elected members advise on English learner programs
Work with staff and community members
Represent ELL family voices in school decisions

Other Options (2 and 3):

Option 2 (SSC as SELLS): No separate elections needed
Option 3 (SELLS Subcommittee): Usually appointments per SSC bylaws

Agenda Item: Election/Designation of DELLS Representative

DELLS (Snapshot)

DELLS Connection:

SELLS responsibilities include providing input to district-level initiatives through DELLS
Each SELLS should designate a representative to participate in district-wide ELL planning
DELLS serves as the bridge between site-level and district-level ELL advocacy

Recommended Selection Process

Formal Election: SELLS members vote during a regular meeting to choose their DELLS representative
Officer Designation: Committee chair or vice-chair automatically serves as DELLS liaison
Volunteer Appointment: Members volunteer and are confirmed by committee consensus

Representative Qualifications:

Current SELLS member in good standing
Able to attend monthly DELLS meetings
Comfortable advocating for ELL families at district level
Communication skills to report back to SELLS
Understanding of school's specific ELL population and needs

Key Responsibilities:

Attend DELLS meetings and district planning sessions
Share site-specific ELL data, concerns, and recommendations
Report back to SELLS on district initiatives and policy changes
Participate in DELLS surveys and needs assessments
Represent multilingual families' voices in district decision-making

Documentation:

Include DELLS representative selection in SELLS meeting minutes
Add representative contact information to SELLS membership roster
Report representative changes to district DELLS coordinator

Agenda Item: Officer Election: Suggested for Formation Option 1 Only

If your SELLS committee would like to remain a separate stand alone committee (Option 1), it is best practice to elect SELLS officers and submit the following:

Registry of Officers Google Doc Version

SELLS Monthly Meeting Toolkit (Ongoing-Resource)

The Office of Equity, ELLMA, and Strategic Resource Planning (SRP) have developed resources to support EL parent engagement, including strategies and best practices.

SELLS Toolkit

This Toolkit provides agendas, slide decks, and translated resources to guide five annual SELLS meetings.

English

Chinese

Arabic

Spanish

For Best Practices on Starting and Maintaining SELLS, Click Here

Note: These resources go beyond the minimum requirements for establishing a compliant SELLS committee and are intended to strengthen family engagement.

Quick List of SELLS Formation Meeting Templates

REQUIRED ESTABLISHMENT DOCUMENTS

In this section, you will find all the mandated documents needed for submission to the Strategic Resource Planning office in order to establish your School Site Council.

Flyer

The SELLS Establishment flyer must be posted 72 hours in advance of your meeting and must include: School name, location, date, time, title of meeting, and all the agenda items.

Agenda

See agenda template for all the items REQUIRED as part of your Establishment meeting

SELLS Establishment Meeting Agenda - Enlish/Spanish

Sign-In Sheet

Signatures must be hand written, and members must be physically present

SELLS Sign In Sheet

Minutes

Minutes Template

Based on the Formation option, your minutes should have the following components:

OPTION 1: Traditional SELLS Establishment

All agenda items were discussed:

- 1. SELLS Training was presented
  2. Peer election of EL parents to the committee by EL parents (reflect how voting occurred in minutes)

OPTION 2: SSC designated as SELL Advisory Committee

SSC will act as the SELLS advisory committee and the EL parents on the SSC reflect EL school enrollment

OPTION 3: SELLS is Subcommittee under SSC

SELLS Subcommittee under SSC will be designated. Must have at least 3 members with EL parent composition that reflects school EL enrollment percentage.

Membership Roster

Roster

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