This document provides guidance for operating a school parent council effectively. It outlines developing a strategy for the school year by establishing short, medium, and long term goals aligned with timelines. It also notes the importance of professional leadership from the principal and council chair, as well as maintaining a partnership through mutual sharing of information and focusing on improving student learning outcomes.

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1. Understanding the school –
 Major facilities
 Special programs
 Community partners
 Curriculum, teaching, learning, assessment, and reporting practices
2. Develop a strategy for operating during the school year -
 Align with already established timelines – e.g. budget focus aligned with
government budget timelines
 Focus/goals- establish short, medium and long term goals. Prioritize in order
of most important
 Consider the following for the school;
 where have we been?
 where do we want to go?
 how will we get there?
 how will we know if we have been successful?
3. Meeting minutes template – sample provided
4. Rules of order – Robert’s Rules of Order or any other
Parent Council Effectiveness Tools
Overview

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The partnership requires:
1. Professional leadership of the principal and council chair
2. Mutual sharing of information, knowledge and ideas, experiences, honestly
express perspectives, pose questions, clarify viewpoints and develop a
shared vision and way forward.
3. Focus on improving student learning outcomes
4. Leading school community conversations about key issues and challenges in
education
5. Maintaining high ethical standards
6. Developing mutual trust and respect for one another
Parent Councils
Making the Partnership Work