CDE Requirements
for ELAC

CDE Requirements for ELAC

Under California law, every school with 21 or more English learner students must establish an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC). The committee is responsible for advising the principal and school staff on programs and services for multilingual learners.

CDE Requirements 

California Education Code, sections 35147, 52176(b) and (c), 62002.5, and 64001(a)

California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11308:

ELAC shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Advising the principal and staff in the development of a site plan for English learners and submitting the plan to the School Site Council for consideration of inclusion in the School Plan for Student Achievement.

• Assisting in the development of the schoolwide needs assessment.

• Ways to make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.

Elections:

• Elect one or more members to serve on the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)

Training:

• Receive training to carry out these responsibilities
  
  

You can find the official CDE overview here:
🔗 California Department of Education – ELAC Requirements

How the ELAC Toolkit Supports These Requirements

This Toolkit provides ready-to-use meeting templates that are fully aligned with CDE requirements. Each meeting guide includes:

• A clear purpose and summary of how it fulfills a CDE legal requirement.  The meeting templates provide the training required by  the CDE so that ELAC's can fulfill their commitments.
  
  

• Facilitator scripts and activities to support meaningful participation
  
  

• Bilingual resources to ensure access and understanding
  
  

• Opportunities for families to reflect, give input, and help shape decisions
  
  

Beyond Compliance: A Vision for True Partnership

While this Toolkit ensures your ELAC meets state requirements, it is built on something deeper: the belief that family voice is essential to school success. When meetings are welcoming, interactive, and grounded in lived experience, ELAC becomes more than compliance—it becomes a space where families feel they belong, where they are true partners, and where they can lead alongside schools to ensure every multilingual learner is supported to thrive.