Ministry of Education Ontario Regulation 612/00 states that the purpose of school councils is to improve student achievement and enhance accountability through the active participation of parents in all aspects of student life. It provides clear directions to school councils on their roles and responsibilities, and also spells out the roles and responsibilities of school boards in dealing with school councils.
School councils are advisory bodies and will provide advice to the school Principal and, where appropriate, to the school board on any of the matters that the council has identified as priorities, including, but not limited to:
A. Development, implementation and review of the school plan for continuous improvement through involvement in matters such as:
school code of conduct;
- student achievement goals and priorities;
- responses of the school or school board to achievement in provincial [e.g., Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)] and board assessment results;
- school budget priorities and allocations;
- school/board homework policy; and/or
- Safe Schools Action Team goals and priorities.
B. Support for school, family and community partnerships that assist parents in the education of their children through involvement in matters such as:
- school-based services; partnerships with agencies, associations, and communities related to social, health, recreational, and nutritional programs;
- local coordination of services for children and youth; and/or
- local school/community communication strategies.
C. Preparation and review of the school profile through involvement in matters such as:
- developing criteria to assist in the selection of local school administration (i.e., principal, vice principal).
D. Other matters which an individual school council may consider important, such as:
- extra-curricular activities in the school;
- school capital improvement plans; and/or
- methods of reporting to parents and the community.
For new schools, the formation of the School Council shall be no sooner than September 1st of the year in which the school opens.