School-wide Needs Assessment: Family Listening Session for ELAC/LCAP/SPSA

Purpose

Listening Sessions give families the opportunity to share their experiences, hopes, and ideas — and for schools to truly listen. They help schools understand what’s working well, where there are challenges, and what families need to feel supported and included. The insights gathered are especially powerful for improving programs and supports for multilingual learners.

Why It Matters

Listening Sessions help schools meet key requirements and make better decisions by bringing authentic family voice into planning. They support:

• ELAC: Assists in developing the schoolwide needs assessment
  
  

• SPSA: Informs school goals, actions, and programs
  
  

• LCAP: Strengthens the Engaging Educational Partners section with real family input
  
  

They also help schools:

• Build trust and stronger relationships with families
  
  

• Understand what’s working and where improvements are needed
  
  

• Gain insights that data alone cannot show

What’s Included in This Toolkit

Use these ready-to-go resources to plan and lead a Listening Session at your site:

• Facilitator How-To Guide (with Facilitator Scripts & If/Then Scenarios)
  Step-by-step guidance for preparing your team, leading the session, and navigating challenging moments.

• Bilingual Slide Deck
  Welcomes families, sets the tone, and explains the purpose in an accessible, family-friendly way. Fully customizable — you can add your school logo, update images, and make any changes you need.

• Question Bank 

Bilingual reflection prompts and templates to guide discussion

• Notetaker Form
  Bilingual notetaker form to capture main ideas. 

• Family Follow-Up Form
  Helps staff track individual concerns and follow up after the session.

Use This Toolkit For

• Your ELAC meeting on the schoolwide needs assessment

• SPSA or LCAP family engagement activities

• Gathering real-time family input on programs, communication, and supports

• Building trust and deeper relationships with multilingual families
  
  

When families share their experiences, schools gain powerful insights that data alone cannot show — insights that help shape stronger, more equitable systems and support better outcomes for students.