LSAT (Local School Advisory Team)

About the LSAT

The Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) is a group of elected and appointed members that exists in every DCPS school. The team consists of parents, teachers, staff, and a community member who advise the principal on matters that promote high expectations and achievement for all students. All LSAT meetings are generally open to observers and the notes are shared publicly.

WHAT DOES LSAT DO?

As noted by DCPS, LSAT teams have the following primary responsibilities:

Working with the principal on initial development, regular monitoring and continuous refinement of the local Comprehensive School Plan (CSP) (school goals), including the supporting budget;
Advising the principal on school priorities;
Reviewing data in order to be informed about school needs and trends;
Using assessment results to develop specific strategies for research-based school improvement;
Promoting a positive school climate through respectful discourse;
Complying with the requirements of the District of Columbia Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act;
Alignment of strategic and specific goals and objectives of DCPS.

In the course of carrying out these responsibilities, all directed at improving student achievement, LSAT discusses and advises the principal on matters including:

Allocation of school resources
Organization of the school
Curriculum options, including special or supplementary course offerings and specialized research-based instructional strategies
Budget decisions
Priorities and considerations for staffing patterns
Monitoring overall student progress
School culture
Family engagement

Each Spring, LSAT representatives are elected to serve for the following school year. The PTO coordinates the election of LSAT parent representatives. All parents and guardians of current Ludlow-Taylor students are eligible to be nominated for a position and to vote for the representatives.