Overview

If you’re passionate about making a difference in your child’s education, this guide is for you. Joining your school council is a rewarding way to get involved.

As a school council member, you play an important role in your child’s education and in your school community. You’re a valued partner in our education system — and your voice matters.

You:

  • help improve student achievement by sharing ideas and working with others
  • provide advice to your school and school board
  • express your opinions on decisions that affect your school
  • stay informed about what’s happening at your school, your school board and across our education system
  • help keep our education system accountable to parents and families

Contact your school principal to learn about joining your school council. This guide includes tools and resources to help your school council work effectively and achieve your purpose and mandate.

You may also want to work with your school board’s parent involvement committee (PIC). This committee shares information with your school council and supports parent engagement at the board level to improve student achievement and well-being.

Contact your school board to learn more about your local PIC.

Thank you for volunteering your time, experience and expertise! Schools are even stronger when parents are involved. Your efforts help make your school a great place for students to learn and thrive.

Terms used in this guide

In this guide:

  • parent(s) refers to parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
  • guardian refers to a person who has lawful custody of a child, other than their parents
  • family(ies) refers to parents, guardians, caregivers and others who help raise a child attending the school and support their learning and development
  • school board and board refer to district school boards and school authorities
  • council refers to school council
  • we, our and us refer to the Ministry of Education
  • must refers to a regulatory requirement and should refers to a suggested practice

About school councils

Every publicly funded school has a school council. School councils:

  • are advisory bodies to their schools
  • may also provide advice to their school board

Learn about their purpose, key functions and how they support our education system.

Rules for school councils

School councils must follow their board’s polices and directives.

We have regulations that set out:

  • the purpose and mandate of school councils
  • who can be a member
  • the bylaws school councils must create
  • how school councils must operate
  • topics that principals and boards must consult school councils about
  • police record check requirements for school council members

Learn about the rules for school councils.

Police record checks

Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, school council members must provide a police record check. School boards must collect police record checks from school council members.

Who needs a police record check

School council members need a police record check.

School boards don’t need to collect a police record check from anyone under 18 years old.

Contact your school board to learn what requirements apply to your role.

When you need to provide a police record check

If you have never provided your school board with a police record check, you must do so by November 1, 2026.

If you have not provided a police record check to your school board within the last 5 years, you must provide a new one.

If you do not have a current police record check

Contact your school board to learn:

  • what type of police record check you need
  • how to get one
  • when you need to provide it

Your school board will tell you whether you can start or continue serving while your police record check is underway.

Learn more about police record checks.

Helpful practices for school councils

Effective school councils:

  • prioritize student achievement, equity and well-being
  • focus on the needs and interests of all students and families at the school
  • understand their roles and responsibilities
  • represent the diversity of the school community
  • promote clear and ongoing communication with:
    • parents and families
    • students
    • school staff
    • the school board
    • the school community
  • build positive relationships with the principal and staff
  • use consistent processes for decision-making and resolving conflicts
  • tell parents how their advice and ideas are considered
  • maintain high ethical standards

Find information and tools to help your school council work effectively.

School council regulations

Read the rules that outline how school councils must operate in Ontario.

Ontario Regulation 612/00: School Councils and Parent Involvement Committees

Read the full regulation.

Ontario Regulation 298: Operation of Schools

Read what this regulation says about:

School councils must also follow their school board’s polices and directives. These must comply with the Education Act.

Contact your principal if you have questions.

Ontario Regulation 521/01: Collection of Personal Information

Read the regulation that requires police record checks for school council members.

Download resources

Get samples and templates to support your school council’s elections, meetings, reporting and more.