The Centre's Mission:

To enhance student learning in Ontario by significantly advancing the effectiveness of Ontario's School Council system.

The Ontario School Council Support Centre is designed to support you, your Principal, and the other members of your council on a widely available and 'self serve' basis.

As a chairperson, you have special and important responsibilities.  Organizing and running efficient meetings, keeping the council focused on its goals, resolving conflicts etc.

This section is just for you - to assist you with the special challenges you face.

This includes a set of key methods for encouraging and focusing parental involvement within the school on meaningful activities that have an impact on student learning. Click here to view the framework. 

There is an overwhelming body of evidence that indicates that when parents are involved in their children's education, children do better in school.

But what kind of involvement makes a difference?

• Learning and practicing good parenting skills (sometimes easier said than done)
• Keeping a good channel of communication open between home and the school
• Volunteering in the classroom 
• Assisting children to learn at home, such as assisting with homework (not doing the homework for a child - assisting them!) 
• Participating on the school council, and making it as effective as possible
• Tapping into the resources of the community to assist the school
• Organizing and/or attending school events. 
• Fundraising towards a specific goal that will have an impact on student learning

The basis for most of this learning is from the research of Dr. Joyce Epstein, operating out of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.  

There is also some original work underway in Ontario, here at the Ontario School Council Support Centre.  This work is intended to further define the types of involvement that are relevant within an Ontario context.  

Specifically, this involves recognizing the role of fundraising and organizing and attending social events as distinct types of involvement for traditional parent groups within Ontario.  

But how can School Councils use this to impact student learning - by assessing activities and organizing new activities to specifically address the key need of your school - using the types of involvement identified above.  More about this will be added to this site in the near future.  

For more information on the six types of involvement now, please visit Dr. Joyce Epstein's National Network of Partnership Schools.  Check back here for more information on modifications to the framework for use within Ontario. 

To see how this framework connects to the work of School Councils, please view the following paper:

Ontario's School Councils:  Leading Them Forward to Have an Impact on Student Learning

This paper was presented at the 14th International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement in Toronto in January 2001.  The creation of this Centre was based on the research and recommendations contained within this paper.

It provides a perspective on how to move the development of School Councils beyond the basics to become highly focused on student learning. 

Click here to see where your School Council is within five defined Stages of Development.

Please drop back soon - there will be more resources added.

In the meantime, visit the links page for more resources identified for Council Leadership (Chairs and Principals).

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Send mail to gkerr@schoolcouncils.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 - 2010 Ontario School Council Support Centre
Last modified: September 28, 2010