An important endeavour within the Ontario Ministry of Education is Parent Involvement Committees, which help parents take active roles in their children's academic experiences. Differing from school councils, Parent Involvement Committees (PICs) serve as liaisons between parents and school boards. Moreover, they primarily consist of parents, although school administrators and educators may join at an individual group’s discretion.

1. A Look at Parent Involvement
Committees
By Angelina Pilon

2. About Parent Involvement
Committees
An important endeavour within the Ontario Ministry of
Education is Parent Involvement Committees, which help
parents take active roles in their children's academic
experiences. Differing from school councils, Parent
Involvement Committees (PICs) serve as liaisons between
parents and school boards. Moreover, they primarily consist
of parents, although school administrators and educators
may join at an individual group’s discretion.

3. The Function of Parent Involvement
Committees
Mandatory for all Ontario school districts, Parent
Involvement Committees teach school boards how to
better connect with parents. Additionally, their programs
teach adults how to enhance their children's education at
home and in the classroom. In 2005, the Ontario Ministry of
Education further strengthened the PICs concept by
establishing a Parent Engagement Office which creates
and sponsors projects to engage members of the
community.

4. About the Author
For over two decades, Angelina Pilon
has been instrumental in Canadian
public schools as both a teacher and
administrator. During her tenure with
the Simcoe County District School
Board, Pilon worked with Parent
Involvement Committees to assist in
applying for Parents Reaching Out
Regional Grants through the Ontario
Ministry of Education.