Parents Consulted on School Advisory Councils

The Department of Education is consulting parents and others to ensure they have a meaningful role in education decisions through school advisory councils.

Education Minister Angus MacIsaac tabled the discussion paper, Parents and Their Children's Education: Defining a Meaningful Role for School Advisory Councils, in the legislature today, May 9.

School advisory councils bring parents, students, teachers, support staff, principals and members of the community together to help improve children's learning. Council members are currently considering the discussion paper and completing questionnaires to help the Department of Education to determine the appropriate roles and responsibilities for school advisory councils in Nova Scotia.

"We've heard that some parents feel the councils are working well while others want a more effective voice in decision making in their children's schools," said Mr. MacIsaac."I encourage all the parents and others who received the paper to take the time to complete the questionnaire. We want to learn from their experiences to ensure they have a meaningful role in decisions about their children's education."

Legislation passed in 1996 gave schools the opportunity to establish the councils. About 90 per cent of Nova Scotia schools now have or are in the process of creating them.

Under the Education Act, the councils develop school improvement plans and participate in the selection of principals. They also advise on school policies, curriculum and programs, school practices, funding and fundraising, student support services, discipline and communications strategies.

Former Education Minister Jane Purves had met with representatives from school advisory councils across the province last fall and heard their concerns. The Learning for Life strategy also calls for more meaningful information and input for parents.

The discussion paper will also help Student Advisory Councils to work effectively with other associations. The paper and the questionnaire have also been sent to the Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations, Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse, Council on African Canadian Education, Council on Mi'kmaq Education, Disabled Persons Commission, Nova Scotia School Boards Association and Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

Completed questionnaires will be returned to the department this month. Focus groups will be held in June to complete the consultation process.