Participating in Advisory Groups

Effective partnerships develop when each partner is respected and empowered to fully participate in the decision-making process. Schools that actively enlist parent participation and input in decisions communicate that parents are valued as partners in the educating of their children.

Parent participation in school decision-making systems fosters parental trust and mutual support of each other's efforts in helping students succeed.

School councils have been mandated to provide a regular forum for collaboration between parents, community members, student representatives, school staff, and the principal, on matters relating to the education of the students and the improvement of the school.

It is important that strategies be in place to provide school councils with the support needed for effective operation.

The advisory role of school councils must not extend to school management or direct involvement in school operations which are the responsibility of the principal.

Successful Practices the TDSB Undertakes to Promote Participation in Advisory Groups

• Provide understandable, accessible, and well publicized processes for parental participation in school or board decisions, raising issues or concerns, appealing decisions, and resolving problems.
• Ensure that school councils are provided with relevant and up-to-date information required for effective advice to the school and the board.
• Ensure that school councils operate in an inclusive and democratic way to accommodate diverse views and interests within its activities and decision-making processes.
• Include parents on all appropriate decision making and advisory committees of the school and board.
• Provide parents with current information regarding school policies, practices, and both student and school performance data.
• Enable parents to participate as partners in school improvement planning, setting school goals, developing or evaluating programs and policies, or responding to performance data , within school council activities or within special school improvement planning structures.
• Treat parental concerns with respect and demonstrate genuine interest in developing solutions.
• Promote parent participation on family of school, ward, regional or district-wide committees dealing with educational issues.
• Provide adequate training for parents in areas such as policy, curriculum, budget, school reform initiatives, safety, and organizational structure of then school or district.
• Provide training for staff and parents on how to work effectively together.