Every voice counts: School councils support student success
Every Peel school has a school council--a group focussed on helping students succeed. Though Peel schools have long welcomed and encouraged parent involvement, school councils were legislated by the Ontario government in 1996. Schools can have another parent organization, such as a parent-teacher association, in addition to a school council.
Councils offer advice to the school principal on a number of topics. In Peel, most of the work of councils focuses on three main areas: school community communication strategies, ways of responding to parents and the community and school code of behaviour. School councils include parents, school staff, community representatives and, in some cases, students.
We welcome and encourage the participation of parents and community members in our schools, and on councils. In this section, you can find out more about school councils, including how to become a member.
Websites provide more resources for school councils
The Ontario Parent Council has a website to encourage parents to get more involved in their children's education. The site provides information about elementary and secondary education in Ontario. There are many resources for parents on the site including news on issues that affect education, the OPC's position on those issues and information to help parents make decisions about their child's education.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/involvement/index.html
The Ministry of Education has produced a series of tips about how to involve parents in your school and with your school council. The key to building parental involvement lies in genuinely understanding the needs and interests of parents before planning programs and activities. Go through the ideas on this site to determine which ones will work for your school.
