Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which school district personnel may be PAC members?
School district personnel, including teachers and other service providers and school committee members, may be PAC members as "interested parties," subject to local policies; or if they are parents of children with special needs in that school district, they may be parent members of the PAC.
School district administrators who are not parents of children with special needs in the school district should not be PAC members, because that would put them in the position of advising themselves.
2. May school administrators attend PAC meetings?
Because PAC meetings are subject to Open Meeting Law, school administrators may attend PAC meetings. In the spirit of effective collaboration, it is good practice to invite the administrator of special education to meetings of the PAC.
3. May a school committee or school administrator disband a PAC?
No. A school committee or school administrator may not disband an established PAC. The school district and the PAC are encouraged to cooperate in order to resolve issues. The ESE and the Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (MassPAC) can provide helpful materials.
4. Who can vote at a PAC Meeting?
PACs may address the issue of voting in their own By-Laws. Some PACs have found it effective to allow all members to vote, while taking a vote only if there is a "voting quorum" in which at least two thirds of the PAC members present are parents of children with special needs. Other PACs have defined "General Membership" and "Voting Membership" (see sample By-Laws in Appendix A).
5. Is the PAC membership list a public document?
Since a PAC is an advisory group to a public body (the School Committee), the official PAC membership list of persons who have taken action to join is a public document.
6. May a PAC operate a private email list (for example, "LISTSERV") that is not open to the participation of school employees?
No, all email communications of the PAC, including electronic mailing or distribution lists, are subject to Public Records Law.
7. May a school district adopt policies further defining the operations of a PAC?
School districts may set reasonable operational policies such as notice for use of school buildings or access to school programs. However, the role of a PAC may not be limited in a manner inconsistent with state regulations regarding PACs, or with ESE PAC guidelines.
8. May a school district direct PAC activities?
No. A PAC directs its own activities in cooperation and collaboration with the school district.
9. May a school district prohibit proposed PAC activities?
The goals of the school district and the PAC should be in agreement; the instances should be few in which the school district would want to prohibit PAC activities. The school district may prohibit activities which do not comply with school district operating procedures or with regulations and laws.
10. What authority may a school district maintain regarding PAC newsletters, public statements, correspondence, or reports?
In general, PACs control their own publications and correspondence. However, a school district may establish reasonable guidelines for PAC publications and correspondence – i.e. establishing a time or manner of distribution and prohibiting defamatory statements. PACs are encouraged to use their own letterhead, and PACs may receive responses to mailings as long as confidentiality is assured where applicable. As the PAC's role is to 'advise' the school committee, the PAC determines the contents of its own reports to the school committee."
11. Is there a process for a PAC to express concern about or appeal a school district decision?
A PAC and a school district are strongly encouraged to resolve differences together. Open communication on all issues of concern to all parties is the best approach to problem-solving. However, if a PAC believes a school district is in non-compliance with special education regulations, a PAC should consult the Department of Education, and may access the Problem Resolution System.
School district personnel, including teachers and other service providers and school committee members, may be PAC members as "interested parties," subject to local policies; or if they are parents of children with special needs in that school district, they may be parent members of the PAC.
School district administrators who are not parents of children with special needs in the school district should not be PAC members, because that would put them in the position of advising themselves.
2. May school administrators attend PAC meetings?
Because PAC meetings are subject to Open Meeting Law, school administrators may attend PAC meetings. In the spirit of effective collaboration, it is good practice to invite the administrator of special education to meetings of the PAC.
3. May a school committee or school administrator disband a PAC?
No. A school committee or school administrator may not disband an established PAC. The school district and the PAC are encouraged to cooperate in order to resolve issues. The ESE and the Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (MassPAC) can provide helpful materials.
4. Who can vote at a PAC Meeting?
PACs may address the issue of voting in their own By-Laws. Some PACs have found it effective to allow all members to vote, while taking a vote only if there is a "voting quorum" in which at least two thirds of the PAC members present are parents of children with special needs. Other PACs have defined "General Membership" and "Voting Membership" (see sample By-Laws in Appendix A).
5. Is the PAC membership list a public document?
Since a PAC is an advisory group to a public body (the School Committee), the official PAC membership list of persons who have taken action to join is a public document.
6. May a PAC operate a private email list (for example, "LISTSERV") that is not open to the participation of school employees?
No, all email communications of the PAC, including electronic mailing or distribution lists, are subject to Public Records Law.
7. May a school district adopt policies further defining the operations of a PAC?
School districts may set reasonable operational policies such as notice for use of school buildings or access to school programs. However, the role of a PAC may not be limited in a manner inconsistent with state regulations regarding PACs, or with ESE PAC guidelines.
8. May a school district direct PAC activities?
No. A PAC directs its own activities in cooperation and collaboration with the school district.
9. May a school district prohibit proposed PAC activities?
The goals of the school district and the PAC should be in agreement; the instances should be few in which the school district would want to prohibit PAC activities. The school district may prohibit activities which do not comply with school district operating procedures or with regulations and laws.
10. What authority may a school district maintain regarding PAC newsletters, public statements, correspondence, or reports?
In general, PACs control their own publications and correspondence. However, a school district may establish reasonable guidelines for PAC publications and correspondence – i.e. establishing a time or manner of distribution and prohibiting defamatory statements. PACs are encouraged to use their own letterhead, and PACs may receive responses to mailings as long as confidentiality is assured where applicable. As the PAC's role is to 'advise' the school committee, the PAC determines the contents of its own reports to the school committee."
11. Is there a process for a PAC to express concern about or appeal a school district decision?
A PAC and a school district are strongly encouraged to resolve differences together. Open communication on all issues of concern to all parties is the best approach to problem-solving. However, if a PAC believes a school district is in non-compliance with special education regulations, a PAC should consult the Department of Education, and may access the Problem Resolution System.
