Contact Information
5050 Yonge Street, 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON
M2N 5N8
Email – PCEO@tdsb.on.ca
Michelle Munroe – Central Co-ordinator
Margaret Horvath – Office Administrator
TBD – Committee Assistant
John Manalo – Committee Assistant
Mandate
To enhance the system’s capacity for authentic engagement and to support effective partnerships among students, families, schools and the community to ensure student readiness, achievement and the systemic and the comprehensive integration of family and community engagement.
Every family desires educational success for their child. The PCEO believes that success begins early by engaging students, family, Staff, partners and community in developing student readiness and focussing on achievement from early education through to high school. The PCEO offers programming and initiatives which engage and involve families, Staff and the community in helping all TDSB students to achieve success.
About Us
Community Advisory Committees (CACs)
PCEO supports the operation of ten (10) CACs. Staff provides:
- orientation for Staff on supporting CACs;
- co-ordination of meetings, electronic communication, and information sharing.
Statutory Advisory Committees
PCEO provides administrative, co-ordination and special project planning and supports to the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC).
Community Liaison Groups (CLGs)
PCEO supports the application process for external agencies who are interested in partnering with the TDSB.
Parents/Caregivers as Partners Conferences
TDSB is committed to parent, caregiver, and community engagement as an essential element in our shared efforts to improve outcomes for children throughout their lives. Our role is to help build capacity by successfully engaging parents and caregivers, strengthening home-school partnerships, and aligning our collective efforts.
PIAC Conference
This is a curated event, with speakers & workshops focused on bridging gaps in our schools in Mental Health, Parent/Caregiver Engagement, and School Councils. Engage with others from across the TDSB as we learn and share best practices on reconnecting mentally and socially with ourselves, our students, schools, and communities.
Conversation Series
TDSB families are invited to join us for a series of engaging and informative conversations on topics that we heard that you want to learn more about. Hear from leading experts and participate in question-and-answer sessions online.
Grants for Student Need (GSN)
This is a collection of grants which determines the funding allocation for publicly-funded school boards (72 district school boards and 10 school authorities) in Ontario.
School Councils
School Councils work to improve student achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents and caregivers. They are legislated and governed by Regulation 612 of the Education Act.
School Services
Interpretation, Translation and Sign Language
- PCEO co-ordinates and facilitates the delivery of interpretation, translation and sign language services to all schools and the system;
- interpretation and translation is provided for an array of meetings and events across the TDSB to ensure that multilingual families whose first language may not be English are able to fully engage in the education of their child at the school and within the system.
Occasion Childcare Attendants
PCEO coordinates policy and programming for occasional childcare which is a service that facilitates parent/caregiver engagement and attendance at school meetings/events/activities. It is an information, unlicensed arrangement for the care and the supervision of school-aged children on a non-recurring basis during and beyond (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) regular business hours.
PCEO co-ordinates the delivery of the SWIS, also known as the Settlement Education Partnership Toronto (SEPT) service, to schools. This ensures the availability of Settlement Workers to support schools in welcoming and in supporting newcomer students and families.
School Capacity Building and Supports
- both at a school and a district level, PCEO provides professional development on family and community engagement best practices to educators, Support Staff and school leaders;
- PCEO provides training, advice and guidance for Staff, School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs and families on the effective implementation of School Councils;
- PCEO identifies and works with educators (teachers/leaders) to develop and to implement school level engagement practices. Teachers and facilitators have the opportunity to participate in a two-day summer institute professional. development to develop their knowledge and their capacity for effective engagement.
Family Capacity Building and Support
- PCEO collaborates with various departments and community agencies to organize an array of workshops, speakers’ series, consultations and one on one conversation for families on effectively engaging and navigating the system;
- support for Principals, School Councils and the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC).
What is Family Engagement?
- a shared responsibility between the school, the home and the community;
- continuous across a child’s life;
- cuts across and reinforces learning in the multiple settings where children learn.
Adapted from *National Family and Community Engagement Working Group
Family Engagement Core Beliefs
(Henderson, Mapp etc., 2007):
All parents/caregivers have dreams for their children and want the best for them.
- all parents/caregivers have the capacity to support their children's learning;
- parents/caregivers and school Staff should be equitable partners;
- the responsibility for building partnerships between school and home rests primarily with school Staff, especially school leaders.
Impact of Family Engagement
Research tells us that when parents/caregivers and school Staff work together to support learning, students:
- earn higher grades and test scores;
- enroll in higher level programs;
- are promoted more and earn more credits;
- adapt better to school and attend more regularly;
- have better social skills and behaviour;
- graduate and go on to higher education.
Standards of Engagement
According to research it is challenging to implement and evaluate engagement without benchmarks or standards. The American National Parent Teacher Association has developed the following standards for effective parent/caregiver engagement:
- welcoming all families into the school community
- communicating effectively;
- supporting student success;
- speaking up/supporting every child;
- sharing power;
- collaborating with community.