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Curriculum
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Educational Update 1997

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ADVISORY COUNCILS FOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

Note: James C. McCrae communicates information received from a series of regional parent consultations hosted in spring 1999.

Regulations were enacted in Spring 1996 allowing for the establishment of Advisory Councils for School Leadership (ACSLs) which gave parents, community members, and school representatives the right to organize and to contribute ideas and suggestions on school policies and procedures.

ACSLs are designed to support collaborative educational processes, by involving parents, community members and school staff in important matters of the local school and school board. The role of the ACSL includes advising the principal about school policies, activities, and organization; advising the principal about fund-raising and participating in fund-raising activities; advising the school board about the process of hiring and assigning principals; advising the principal and the school board about an annual budget for the school; participating in developing an annual school plan; and participating in any review of the school that the minister or the school board has directed be carried out.

According to legislation and regulation, ACSLs are to perform their roles within the framework of responsibilities and powers conferred on school boards, principals, and teachers under The Public Schools Act and The Education Administration Act.

In order to facilitate the partnership and shared responsibility between advisory councils/parent committees and school officials, the duties of school boards have been expanded and strengthened by way of legislation passed in late 1996 (Bill 47 - The Public Schools Amendment Act). School boards must provide advisory councils and parent committees with information necessary for their operation and report to parents the results of assessments of the effectiveness of educational programs. School divisions must also allow advisory councils the opportunity to review the division budget before it is finalized.