Parents play a vital role in student success. By contributing knowledge, perspective and ideas through school councils, parents are actively participating in decisions that impact student learning and contributing to school community and school division success.
A school council is a structured group of parents, principals, teachers, secondary students and community representatives whose purpose is to advise the principal and the school board respecting matters relating to the school. It is a means for parents and community members to work together with the school to support and enhance student learning and build a strong school community.
The Government of Alberta recognizes the value of parents and the community in the education of children, and by law requires school councils in every school operated by a board in Alberta. Legislation relevant to school councils in Alberta is contained in Section 55 of the Education Act
and further defined in the School Councils Regulation outlining requirements.
School councils focus on what is best for all students in the school, consider the interests of all school stakeholders and strive to represent the diverse parent voices in the school community. School councils are a bridge to promote positive, collaborative engagement by fulfilling the following role(s):
communicating, listening, engaging, representing, providing advice and undertaking activities important to the well-being of the school. It is not the primary intention that school councils lobby or fundraise, and they cannot be incorporated under the Societies Act.
In an advisory capacity, school councils may contribute input on the development of a school’s foundation statements (vision, principles, and beliefs); policies; budget; annual results reports; and education plans — Alberta Education business plan, division education plan, school education plan and school council plan.
Additional areas of consultation/contribution include
- assurance framework,
- professional practice standards,
- Alberta Education initiatives,
- respecting diversity and promoting inclusion, and
- advancing reconciliation.
How do SCHOOL COUNCILS contribute to Alberta Education’s ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK?
Provincial or political engagement
There are different levels of engagement for school councils. The experience of members, the leadership of the principal and chair and the goals of the group play a role in defining the discussions and the level of engagement of a school council.
School councils may also come together to advise the minister of education on matters that pertain to provincial educational policy and directions. When advice with the potential to affect change in schools across the province is given, it becomes advocacy. This form of advising or advocacy can be undertaken through the provincially recognized association that represents parents on school councils — the Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA).
ASCA members bring forward issues, in the form of resolutions, at the annual general meeting. If a resolution is endorsed or voted in by the majority of the assembly at the meeting, it becomes a policy of the association. This policy forms the basis for advocating change to the minister of education.
Since the government makes decisions related to education at local, division and provincial levels, the ASCA encourages local advocacy by parents and school councils who wish their MLAs and the minister of education to be aware of decisions impacting students, teachers and parents in their school communities.
ASCA has resources that are designed to encourage interaction with MLAs and include ideas for reaching out, seeking information, and providing a local perspective related to discussions and decisions taking place at the provincial level. They also outline strategies to assist a school council in deciding what level of advocacy or political engagement is best suited for their community and how to develop an action plan.