EPACS was started by East Palo Alto parents — and our success is dependent on their continuous involvement in the school and their children's progress.

We believe that parent involvement is directly linked to student success. EPACS parents are required to be active participants in their child's education through regular meetings with teachers and involvement in the school PTA and other volunteer opportunities. Parents are required to complete 40 parent effort units each year by attending several important student-parent activities such as the Back to School night and regular student-parent-teacher conferences.

Going beyond participation requirements, many EPACS parents contribute their time to improve our school through participation in either the Parents Club or the School Site Council.

The Parents Club at EPACS holds annual fundraisers and school events. Every year they coordinate our annual Cookie Dough Fundraiser, our Winter Festival, events for the Hispanic Heritage and Black History months. They also make decisions about how to prioritize different improvements they want to make throughout the school.

Our School Site Council (SSC) meets the third Tuesday of each month. Every two years, the parents elect new SSC officers: a President, Secretary and Treasurer. The School Site Council collaborates with the Parent's Club, which also has officers: an Event Coordinator, Teacher Appreciation Coordinator and a Fundraising Coordinator. The six officers work together to set the agendas for meetings, plan fundraisers and events and make decisions about ways to improve the school. They also invite guest speakers to meetings.

» Meet our Volunteers