In this guide

Parent(s) refers to parent(s) and/or guardian(s). A guardian is a person who has lawful custody of a child. Review other key terms in this guide.

Overview

Find practical tips and strategies to help your council work effectively. Learn how to focus on your mandate, involve families and the community, support new members, run successful meetings and communicate clearly.

Focusing on your mandate

Your school council should focus on the issues that fall within its purpose and mandate:

  • supporting student achievement and well-being
  • increasing school system accountability to parents

Ways to stay on track

  • Follow the duties outlined in our regulations and your school board’s policies.
  • Include our regulations and your school board’s policies in your orientation materials.
  • Make sure all members understand what is and is not part of your school council’s role.
  • Work closely with families, your principal, staff and members of the school community.
  • Focus on school-wide issues that affect all students.

Know your scope of work

Your school council can make recommendations and provide advice to your principal or school board on any topic. The principal or school board must consider your recommendation and let you know what action they took.

School councils don’t have administrative or managerial responsibilities, such as evaluating staff. These duties belong to your principal and school administrators.

If you're unsure whether something is within your mandate, ask your principal.

Reaching and involving families and the community

School councils help involve all parents and families in their children’s learning and in the life of the school. Every parent and caregiver has something valuable to contribute.

Learn about involving families and community.

Preparing new school council members

Every year, eligible parents elect parent members to your school council. Each member will bring their unique talents, strengths and expertise. Effective school council members know:

  • the important commitment they are making
  • their duties as council members

Find ways to help new school council members get started.

Running effective school council meetings

Good meetings help your school council stay focused and reach goals. Ensuring successful school council meetings includes:

  • setting convenient meeting dates (at least 4 times a year) at accessible locations
  • promoting your meetings and welcoming the public
  • creating agendas
  • choosing a decision-making process that is right for each issue (voting or consensus)
  • taking useful minutes
  • understanding the role of the chair or co-chairs

Find strategies and tips to make your school council meetings effective.

Making decisions

Your school council makes decisions that support your school community. Whether you use consensus or voting, set ground rules to guide meetings and ensure fair, respectful discussions.

Learn about decision making.

School council committees

Your school council can create committees if your bylaws allow it. Having committees lets other parents and community members get involved in ways that match their interests, skills and availability.

Learn more about school council committees.

Communicating for success

Effective communication helps build strong partnerships and a successful school council. It also helps parents get more involved and have a greater say in their children’s education.

School councils need clear ways to communicate with:

  • their members
  • the school principal
  • the school board
  • parents
  • other school councils

Your school council should also share regular updates with the school community. Over time, this should become a routine part of how your council works.

Learn about communicating with different groups.