Supports

School Councils provide a way for parents and the community to consult with and offer advice to principals to enhance student learning.  This is a critical role within our schools and in order to do it well, there are many supports available for School Councils and it's members. Here are a few, with links to find more!

Sturgeon Public Schools

 As per AP 305: School Councils. The Board of Trustees believes that school councils provide valuable advisory assistance to the school principal and to the Board. The Board of Trustees supports the required establishment of school councils in a manner consistent with Section 55 of the Education Act, the School Councils Regulation, and the Alberta School Councils Resource Guide.

The Board further supports School Councils through hosting a Council of School Councils at multiple times during the year, and pays for each School Council within Sturgeon Public Schools to have a membership in the Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA).

Alberta School Councils' Association

The greatest support for School Councils in Alberta is the Alberta School Councils' Association. They have produced guides, professional learning workshops, surveys, and host events. All designed to support parents and School Councils.

All Sturgeon Public Schools who have School Councils are members of ASCA. This gives access to extra resources and one member to go to the AGM without cost.

Alberta Education

Alberta Education offers a varity of support for School Councils. One of the most tangible is in the form of the Alberta School Council Engagement (ASCE) grant.

Section G2 – Alberta School Council Engagement (ASCE) Grant (page 119-120)

This grant provides funding to school authorities (divisions) for each school in order to support school councils fulfilling their legislated responsibilities in the education system and enhancing parent involvement and engagement.

Education Act

School councils are legislated under the Education Act and are mandatory for all schools in the public education system, including charter schools. 


From the Education Act:

School council

55(1)  For each school operated by a board, a school council must be established in accordance with the regulations.

(2)  The majority of the members of a school council must be parents of students enrolled in the school.

(3)  A board of a separate school division may by resolution require that the parents of students enrolled in a school operated by the board who are members of the school council declare themselves to be of the same faith as the electors of the separate school division,  whether Protestant or Roman Catholic.

(4)  A school council may, at its discretion,

                             (a)    advise the principal and the board respecting any matter relating to the school,

                             (b)    perform any duty or function delegated to it by the board in accordance with the delegation,

                             (c)    consult with the principal so that the principal may ensure that students in the school have the opportunity to meet the standards of education set by the Minister,

                             (d)    consult with the principal so that the principal may ensure that the fiscal management of the school is in accordance with the requirements of the board and the superintendent, and

                             (e)    do anything it is authorized under the regulations to do.

(5)  Subject to the regulations, a school council may establish and implement policies in the school that the school council considers necessary to carry out its functions.

(6)  A school council may make bylaws governing its meetings and the conduct of its affairs.

(7)  Subject to the regulations, a board may establish and implement policies respecting school councils.

(8)  A board shall establish a dispute resolution process to address disputes between the principal and the school council with respect to policies proposed or adopted for a school.

(9)  The Minister, on the request of the board, may dissolve a school council without notice at any time if the Minister is of the opinion that the school council is not carrying out its responsibilities in accordance with this Act and the regulations.

(10)  Where a school council has been dissolved by the Minister pursuant to subsection (9), a school council must, in accordance with the regulations, be established after the start of the school year immediately following the year in which the school council was dissolved.

(11)  The Minister may make regulations

                             (a)    respecting the establishment of school councils, the election or appointment of the members of a school council, the term or other conditions of election or appointment and the dissolution of a school council;

                             (b)    respecting the roles of the principal and the school council of a school and their respective powers, duties and responsibilities;

                             (c)    respecting the re-establishment of school councils that have been dissolved by the Minister pursuant to subsection (9);

                             (d)    respecting any other matter the Minister considers necessary respecting school councils;

                             (e)    exempting a school or class of schools from the application of this section.

School Council Regulation

The School Council Regulation under the Education Act futher defines how to establish a School Council and how meetings should proceed. Please follow the link to review the full regulation. The table of contents is posted below to see what information would be found in the Regulation.

Table of Contents