The Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) is the provincially mandated parent involvement committee to TDSB. PIAC's mandate is prescribed by the Education Act and Ontario Regulation 612/00.

PIAC’s purpose is to support, encourage and enhance parent/caregiver engagement at the board level in order to improve student achievement and well-being.

PIAC achieves its purpose by:

1. providing information and advice on parent/caregiver engagement to the board.
2. communicating with and supporting school councils of the board; and
3. undertaking activities to help parents/caregivers of the board support their children’s learning at home and at school.

• A School Council operates at the individual school level. Its members are parents/caregivers from that specific school, and they advise the principal on local school matters.

• PIAC operates at the board-wide (system) level. Its members (Ward Representatives) represent all parents/caregivers within their specific TDSB Ward (a geographic area that includes many schools). PIAC advises TDSB on system-wide parent/caregiver engagement, policies and initiatives.

The primary role of a PIAC Ward Representative is to be a liaison between parents/caregivers in their Ward and the board. Key responsibilities include:

• Attending monthly PIAC meetings.
• Participating in at least one PIAC Working Group.
• Gathering feedback from parents/caregivers and School Councils in their Ward about system-wide issues.
• Sharing information from PIAC and TDSB back to School Councils.
• Advising the Board on parent/caregiver engagement matters.
   

The term for a PIAC Ward Representative is two years.

The role requires you to:

• Attend monthly PIAC general meetings (usually held in the evening).
• Participate in at least one of PIAC's Working Groups (the official term for sub-committees), which also hold meetings.
• Spend time communicating with parents/caregivers and School Councils in your Ward (e.g., via email, attending local School Council meetings, or hosting Ward-level parent/caregiver meetings).

PIAC elections generally take place every two years, as the term for a PIAC representative is two years. Sometimes, elections are held mid-year to fill a vacancy. Please check the PIAC Elections page to confirm whether your Ward is currently part of the election process.

Who is eligible to vote for a PIAC Ward Representative position?

You are eligible to vote for a PIAC Ward Representative if you meet the following criteria:

You are a Toronto District School Board parent/caregiver and meet one of the three requirements set out in the PIAC By-Laws:

1. Reside in the Ward; or
2. Have a TDSB-enrolled child who resides in the Ward; or
3. Have a child who is enrolled in a TDSB school in the Ward.

You are eligible to vote for a PIAC Ward Representative if you meet the following criteria:

You are a Toronto District School Board parent/caregiver and meet one of the three requirements set out in the PIAC By-Laws:

1. Reside in the Ward; or
2. Have a TDSB-enrolled child who resides in the Ward; or
3. Have a child who is enrolled in a TDSB school in the Ward.

Parents/caregivers must register to vote by April 6, 2026. You can register to vote using the online form.

No. If you do not register to vote by April 6, 2026, you cannot vote on election day.

Only self-nominations are accepted and may be made more than one ward. All nominations must be submitted using the online form.

You are eligible to run for a PIAC Ward Representative if you meet the following criteria:

You are a Toronto District School Board parent/caregiver and meet one of the three requirements set out in the PIAC By-Laws:

1. Reside in the Ward; or
2. Have a TDSB-enrolled child who resides in the Ward; or
3. Have a child who is enrolled in a TDSB school in the Ward.

A parent/caregiver can vote for a PIAC Ward Representative for all Wards in which they meet the eligibility criteria. This means that a parent/caregiver can vote for a PIAC Ward Representative if they:

1. Reside in the Ward; or
2. Have a TDSB-enrolled child who resides in the Ward; or
3. Have a child who is enrolled in a TDSB school in the Ward.

For example: If you are a parent/caregiver who lives in Ward 1 and your child attends a school in Ward 2, you can vote for one candidate in each of Ward 1 and Ward 2.

Each registered parent/caregiver will receive one vote per Ward in which they are eligible to vote.

For example, if you are eligible to vote in Ward 1, you will receive one vote for Ward 1. If you are eligible to vote in Ward 1 and Ward 2, you will receive one vote for Ward 1 and one vote for Ward 2.

Parents/caregivers who registered to vote will receive a private ballot via email on election day. All voting is done through a third-party vendor, Election Buddy, an online voting platform. You may request an in-person ballot. All in-person ballots will be generated by Election Buddy and made available. Staff will make arrangements with you to visit 5050 Yonge Street to cast your vote.

What if I do not receive a ballot?

If you completed the election survey and did not receive a ballot to vote  on April 16, 2026, please forward  the  automated confirmation email  to [email protected].

Yes. Virtual Elementary & Secondary school parents/caregivers are eligible to self-nominate and/or vote in PIAC ward elections. Please ensure when completing the form to select TDSB virtual elementary or TDSB virtual secondary from the ward drop-down list.

 Yes, if they meet one of the three PIAC eligibility criteria. 

Please reach out to Latha John ([email protected]) if you have any questions about parent/caregiver engagement at TDSB.

Contact information for the current PIAC Co-Chairs can be found on the PIAC website here.