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The Leadership Opportunity for School Councils                                

Just over ten years ago, the school council system was created, opening up a formal channel for dialogue between parents, teachers, principals and the community.  For many schools in Ontario, that creation simply formalized a dialogue that had been going on for years.  However, there were many schools, as many as 1/3 of Ontario’s schools, where a dialogue did not exist.  That was the breakthrough of school councils – ensuring that a mechanism existed for dialogue in every school.

But … a mechanism for dialogue was only the beginning.  It simply set the stage for larger opportunities for parents to have a positive impact on student learning.  

In 1998, the Education Improvement Commission completed an extensive study of school councils.  The EIC recommended that the purpose of school councils be clarified to focus on improved student learning, and that school councils focus on the following three areas in order to achieve this purpose:

1. Fostering parental and community involvement in education.
2. Participating in the school improvement planning process
3. Influencing decisions made by principals, school boards and the Ministry of Education

The last two areas have been the primary focus for many school councils over the last number of years.  However, the larger opportunity for school councils is to take a clear leadership role in fostering parental and community involvement in education.

There is an overwhelming body of research that indicates that children do better in school when their parents are involved in their education.  Some studies indicate that any kind of involvement is better than none, while other studies indicate that some kinds of involvement have a greater impact on student learning.  Both are true. 

How can school councils take on a leadership role in fostering parental and community involvement in education?  Perhaps the best way to start is to recognize that there are different kinds of parents within a school, and that they have different preferred ways of being involved, and in helping their children.

There are some who simply wish to carry out their role as parents.  There are some who are willing to contribute ther time and energy as volunteers.  There are still others willing to become school council members, offering their leadership skills to the school community.  All three groups have important and valid roles in helping children achieve success at school, and school councils can take an active leadership role in encouraging each of them.

Providing Leadership to the School’s Parents

This is the group of people who simply wish to carry out their role as parents.  Some of them will never volunteer their services to the school, or attend a school council meeting.  Yet, almost every parent sending a child to school wants to know, “How can I help my child do better in school this year? 

A school council can support this group of parents in these key ways:

Parenting resources and seminars – helping parents to meet the challenge of parenting a growing child.  These may include books, videos or seminars on bullying, workshops on the nutritional needs of growing children, or bringing in motivational guest speakers.

Communications – helping these parents to know what is happening at school, and to encourage them to maintain a two-way communication with their child’s teacher and the school.  Newsletters, websites, encouraging the effective use of school journals, encouraging attendance at parent-teacher interviews are all examples of actions that school councils can take to encourage open communications.

Participating in school events – encouraging parents to attend school events, such as plays, assemblies, art exhibits, etc.  When a child sees their parent attend these events, it reinforces to the child how important they are, and how important the school is to the parent.

Learning at home – encouraging parents to assist their children with homework or course selections.  This may involve collaborating with staff on a school-wide homework policy, or the provision of seminars for parents who may struggle with the nightly task of encouraging their child to complete their homework.   

Many of these activities do not look like ‘involvement’, however research indicates that these are among the most effective ways for a parent to be involved in their child’s education.  School councils can take a clear leadership role in encouraging these types of involvement.  

Providing Leadership to the School’s Volunteers

Volunteers are another distinct group within the school.  Again, some may never be part of the school council, yet they lead numerous key initiatives that assist with student learning.  They are perhaps a schools greatest resource in both helping students directly, and helping to engage other parents in the school.  Helping this group carry out their tasks well is key method for school councils to take a leadership role in fostering parental and community involvement.

The five main types of volunteer activities include:

1.      Traditional volunteering, including assisting individual classroom teachers, supervising on field trips, or helping librarians or other staff within the school.  This often has a direct impact on student learning, as these volunteers extend the supervision or resources available to teaching staff.

2. Organizing school events for the benefit of students.  These might be special meals or lunches, or events that enrich the learning experience or the school environment for children.

3. Organizing school events that bring families to the school.  These might include an expanded meet-the-teacher night at the beginning of the school year to introduce parents to the culture of the school, art shows or concerts or guest speakers that will address both children and parents.  This is one of the key ways that volunteers engage other school parents.

4. Organizing or running fundraising programs to benefit the students within the school.

5. Bringing community resources into the school for the benefit of students.

How can a school council provide leadership?

Do school volunteers require support or focus – to ensure that their efforts are put towards meaningful initiatives, or perhaps align with the school plan to improve student learning?   Do they need some training and development to ensure that their efforts comply with board policies?   Do they need some start-up resources (funding) to get a very worthwhile initiative off the ground?  Do they need support and encouragement from the school council?  Might a little recognition go a long way to encouraging your volunteers to keep up the good work, and then simply stay out of their way?

Volunteer efforts might be lead by a committee of the school council, or they might be run by separate groups in the school.  For students, it doesn’t matter who runs them, yet supporting volunteers assists in fulfilling the purpose of school councils – to improve student learning.  What kinds of leadership or support do your volunteers need?

School Council Members – Accepting the Leadership Roles

Within most schools, there is a core group of 5 – 15 parents who want to take on the leadership roles that exist on a school council.  School council members are visible in terms of their involvement, but it’s evident that joining a school council is not the only way to be involved in a child’s education.  How can this small group take an active leadership role in stimulating parental and community involvement?

1. Support those who wish to carry out their role as parents.  Recommend or lead initiatives that will appeal to this group. 
2. Support volunteers with meaningful opportunities, leadership, training and recognition.
3. Partner with the principal and staff in recognizing and supporting the various roles that parents play in helping children through their school years.