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:

Learn about the rules for school councils.

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.

Download resources

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