School Leadership Team
What is a School Leadership Team?
School Leadership Teams (SLTs) are vehicles for developing school-based educational policies, and ensuring that resources are aligned to implement those policies. SLTs assist in the evaluation and assessment of a school’s educational programs and their effects on student achievement.
SLTs play a significant role in creating a structure for school-based decision making, and shaping the path to a collaborative school culture. New York State Education Law Section 2590-h requires every New York City Public School to have a School Leadership Team. In addition,Chancellor’s Regulation A-655 establishes guidelines to ensure the formation of effective SLTs in every New York City public school.
What is the role of an SLT?
An SLT is responsible for developing a school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP). The SLT is not responsible for the hiring or firing of school staff. However, the SLT must be consulted prior to the appointment of a principal or assistant principal candidate to the school. The SLT is intended to provide guidance and oversight for the school, but does not have its own budget.
Who is eligible to serve on an SLT?
There are three members of the school community who are mandatory members of the SLT.
They are:
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Principal
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Parent Association/Parent-Teacher Association President
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United Federation of Teachers Chapter Leader
The remainder of the team is comprised of elected parents and school staff members. Parent representatives are elected by the Parent Association and staff representatives are elected by PS889 staff members. The exact composition of PS 889’s SLT is set forth in the team’s bylaws, which can be found here.
How do SLTs make decisions?
SLTs must use consensus-based decision making. In this type of group decision making, all participants contribute to and help shape the final decision. By listening closely to one another, members aim to come up with solutions and proposals that work for the group. This approach seeks to be empowering because each member has the opportunity to influence team decisions. When all members are able to voice their opinions and concerns, they are more likely to stay invested in and connected to the work of the team. This sets the stage for greater cooperation and mutual respect.
SLT Meetings
At PS 889 the SLT generally meets on a monthly basis while school is in session, and while consensus in decision-making is only required of appointed and elected SLT members, the meetings are open to the school community. PS 889 parents, caregivers and staff are welcome to attend as observers. SLT meeting dates are posted in advance on the Konstella communication platform.
Parents who have items they want to bring to the SLT are encouraged to reach out to the Parent Association first, as the PA president is always represented on the SLT and they can help bring items of importance to the PS 889 community to the full SLT for discussion.