Mandate

A school council is a means to facilitate communication and cooperation among the principal, parents, teachers, community representatives and students (in schools with high school grades) with the goal of enhancing the quality of school programs and increasing the levels of student achievement. While the principal is responsible for the direct management of the school, school councils may assist school administration in the development and implementation of school-based policies, practices and activities which help improve the teaching and learning environment of their school.

It is important that school councils’ discussions and actions are focused on improving the quality of school programs and increasing the levels of student achievement. Items that do not focus on improving the school’s teaching and learning environment should not be brought to the school council table thus should not be added to the school council meeting agenda. It is the responsibility of the chair, in collaboration with the principal, to determine if a proposed agenda item is a suitable issue for the school council to address. School councils are not a forum to address individual teacher, parent, student or personal issues.