Rationale for Increased Involvement of School Councils and Parents

1. Those who are most knowledgeable of, and committed to, the students and their school communities inform the plan.
2. The plan focuses the energy of the school staff, council members, parents and community.
3. Ownership of the plan by the whole school community is increased - resulting in broader support and continuity.
4. Parents support the plan through such effective strategies as learning at home, volunteering and effective parenting.
5. Knowledge of continuous improvement improves parent and community support for the school.
6. School improvement planning keeps the school council focussed on matters that make a difference for students.

Levels of Involvement

Level 1

1. Principal shares the school’s plan for continuous improvement with members of the school council on one or more occasions per year as information.
2. School council members are aware that a school plan exists; are aware of priorities but may not be aware of the strategies and measures of success.
3. Data collected for the purposes of setting and monitoring goals and targets are not made available to school council members or parents at large.
4. Parent and school council perceptions and comments are not systematically collected for the purposes of setting priorities or monitoring improvement.
5. Parents and community members (beyond the school council membership) have limited or no knowledge of the school’s plan for continuous improvement

Level 2

1. Principal shares the school’s plan for continuous improvement with the members of the school council regularly. Opportunities are provided for questions of clarification. Comments by school council members are noted.
2. School staff is undertaking. Progress related to the plan is reported to the council annually.
3. School council members are informed of the data collected as a basis for setting goals and targets.
4. Parents and school council members are surveyed as part of the data collection in setting priorities.
5. Parents and community members are aware of the priorities within the school’s plan for continuous improvement.

1. Members of the school improvement team share the school’s plan for continuous improvement with members of the school council at each meeting – with regular updates on the strategies implemented. Council members are asked to comment and provide input into next steps.
2. School council members are familiar with the school’s improvement plan and use the priorities as a basis for establishing the council’s annual plan (e.g. priorities, major activities, fundraising, and budget).
3. School council members are regularly informed of the progress being made in achieving the goals and targets within the school’s plan. Data used for setting and monitoring improvement are communicated regularly to school council members and occasionally to other parents.
4. Parent and school council members are surveyed regularly (i.e. at least annually) as part of the process of setting and monitoring school improvement. Additional opportunities are provided for input on an ad hoc basis.
5. All members of the school community are aware of the priorities within the school plan for continuous improvement and key strategies being implemented to achieve the goals and targets set. Many parents are aware of ways in which they can support the school’s goals and targets (e.g. learning at home, volunteering).

Level 4

1. Membership of the school improvement team includes representatives from the school council. Members of the improvement team meet regularly with the school council to provide updates on school improvement and seek input into next steps.
2. The school council’s annual plan parallels and supports the school’s plan for continuous improvement. The council members use the priorities within their plan and the school’s plan as the basis for decision making. Activities, speakers, fundraising, and expenditures support the school community’s priorities.
3. All school council members and most parents are aware of the progress being made in achieving the priorities and targets within the plan. Data is shared in a variety of ways with council members and all members of the school community. Feedback and suggestions are welcomed and received regularly.
4. Parent and school council members have regular and ongoing opportunities to provide input into the planning process as well as the strategies to be used in achieving the goals of the plan.
5. All members of the school community are familiar with the school’s plan for continuous improvement and support the achievement of the plan regularly as parents and community members.