Once again, I am pleased to publish a guest post by Nancy Angevine-Sands (@WithEqualStep). She has provided thoughtful and insightful posts about parent engagement to my blog in the past here and most recently here.
I appreciate her thoughts regarding Ontario’s School Councils and also her on-going work with parents and staff as a parent engagement advocate. She asks…
What’s in a Word?
Responding to a half-hearted “Sorry, Mooom,” I’ve been known to tell my children that words are cheap; actions matter. However, I’ve seen the effects of words – both good and bad – on the faces of my children and students. They can inspire or deflate. Words have meaning. Words speak volumes. Words show intent. In the last few weeks, there have been many places where I’ve read the word “Parent” council – newspapers, twitter, school signs – when they mean SCHOOL council. One word. A world of difference.
In 1996 (confirmed and revised in 2001), Ontario’s provincial government established SCHOOL councils, whose purpose was “through the active participation of parents, to improve pupil achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system to parents.” Among other things, they would do this by making recommendations to schools and Boards. (most provincial school councils are similar to Ontario in makeup and intent)
Complete School Council Guide here.
Each council is to be made up of parents, teachers, support staff, community members and, at middle and secondary level, students. They are not parent groups, meeting within schools to support decisions made by others. They are official SCHOOL bodies where all stakeholders partner together for student achievement.
But words are cheap if Board officials, school staff and parents do not let their actions fit the intent of the word. As I wrote in an earlier blog post, parents should not be expected to understand and support education initiatives if they do not receive training in them. They will not adequately advise schools and Boards on school matters if they do not receive regular information on policies and procedures. They are not a SCHOOL council if they don’t help to build partnerships with teachers, staff, principals and their community. The word is SCHOOL.
When SCHOOL councils work effectively, they are able to determine how to meet the needs of their whole community. Information workshops, sharing parent/guardian ideas and talents, developing resources for home and school, involving parents/guardians in training on new methods in education, finding numerous ways to communicate with each other, and building ways to problem-solve school issues are all within the purview of councils. This is part of what Dr. Karen Mapp encourages in building the capacity of parents to support their children’s education. (http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/14/11/building-capacity-family-engagement) I believe that this is the intent of SCHOOL councils.
All parties need to understand that the word ‘partnership’ is a fundamental building block supporting the intent of SCHOOL councils. Ignore this and we’ll only have “parent” councils. And then our aim of improving student achievement will not be fully realized.
Words are cheap when they aren’t respected or understood by the user or receiver. But when the correct words and their intent are realized, they can be powerful. Great things may happen when everyone involved in a common cause are on the same page. Remember this when writing articles, tweeting, announcing meetings, speaking about your work, and supporting the infinite possibilities of SCHOOL councils.
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Nancy welcomes your feedback and comments here, or you can connect with her on Twitter at @withequalstep
SheilaSpeaking 
Dec 12, 2014 @ 09:01:57
The problem is that many people using the term PARENT councils are NOT talking about the entity (School Council) that was created by the government in 1996. So sure, if an article/sign/tweet is referring specifically to a group that is acting in the advisory role (as defined by reg 612) with staff, at a public school in Ontario, then they should be calling themselves a School Council, But when a group of parents is participating in their own activities (outside of reg 612), they can choose their own label. Parent councils/PTAs/Home & School Associtaions/Community Associations exist and while they may fulfill the role of a school council, it is not their only (or even their main) goal.
Reg 612 created a very important opportunity for parents to work with and advise schools and boards, but it does not replace or take over the roles that parents previously played. School Council is an important slice, but we’re not going to name the whole pie after it.
Dec 25, 2014 @ 00:52:41
Sorry, Trixie… I just checked my spam folder and found that this comment went there! Sorry that I didn’t check sooner and “un-spam” it! I must remember to check more often! You had replied before I did.. I will let Nancy know.
Dec 25, 2014 @ 15:16:29
Sorry I missed your comments. Blame a busy season!
You make a good point. Some schools have legacy parent groups that continue to work successfully alongside Councils. I was writing about School Councils and the confusion I experience, too often, around the name – and intent – for that group. Ontario regulations state that School Councils are mandatory. Therefore, parents, staff and community should work to make that partnership successful first. If schools can support another group, with a different mandate, that’s wonderful. But they cannot replace School Councils. I believe that, when working well, Councils bring parental/community engagement to a level not achievable in the past.
Many thanks for your valuable input.
Jan 08, 2015 @ 09:39:38
I just wanted to share a section from the 1996 School Council handbook:
Collaboration with other homecommunity- school associations
All school councils should build on the successes that earlier home-community-school associations have achieved. Any transition from existing to new councils must increase rather than lose the effectiveness of these
bodies. Wherever a home-community-school association continues to function alongside a new school council, the two groups should establish links with one another so that they can work collaboratively for the good of all students in the school.
This section is NOT included in the newer versions of the school council guide. I think part of my view is based on the fact that if we focus on reg. 612 as the most (and for some people it seems to be the only) important role for parents to play, then we are being less effective, not more. The two types of groups were intended to work together, but for the most part it seems to me that school councils took over.
Dec 16, 2014 @ 15:20:25
Thanks for elaborating on this, Nancy! I know that you and I, as well as others, have discussed this in “Twitter bits” before, so I appreciate your thoughts brought together in a post on this topic.
I didn’t want to be the first to comment… But seeing none for now… 🙂
I think I have stated here and there before that I was drawn to involvement in school councils because of the partner/community potential.. ie all partners at the table. I often wonder if the resistance to having school councils from the past is still “out there” and the intent is still not fully realized at the school level in many districts. It is hard not to think of board level PICs now when we talk about school councils in Ontario. We know that PICs are supposed to support the work of school councils, but the question remains… what does that look like if the roles vary and are inconsistent across the province? Were PICs created to do some of the work/outreach that school councils weren’t doing?
There seems to be a “hole” of responsibility in the area of school councils. I guess it is no wonder that the function and roles of the groups may vary a lot. We have heard some express the positives of “parent” council. But then how many other education groups would be okay if their group name/title was called something different than it actually was, or if others referred to it differently? Something that I pondered about… for now…
Jan 05, 2015 @ 11:02:16
“We know that PICs are supposed to support the work of school councils…” Why, why do we have to support it? Case in point…school uniforms… I struggle supporting the whole initiative yet if I were on this council, there IS an expectation that I support it. Personally, the CPIC I’ve seen is a bunch of BS. They ONLY follow what the board wants and the minute anything negative flows their way, they just ignore it. What a total waste of money! And what’s the difference at school level…. parent council, school council, parent involvement committee…..truly no difference just different levels….
I totally agree with you about “if parents don’t work withing the structure or guidelines”….Sheila, this is sooooooo true.
And yes, when you speak up about issues, your voice is being heard AND IGNORED, especially at the PIC level, CPIC to be exact.
My experience of being a parent in the Catholic Elementary System thus far….put up, shut up and don’t rock the boat. If you do all these things you’ll be just fine.
How sad is that.
If you don’t follow those rules you WILL pay the price.
Jan 05, 2015 @ 17:11:23
You sound very frustrated with the system. It’s a frustration I’ve heard so many times. I don’t think the INTENT of the legislation is wrong. Research from around the world supports the need for parent engagement in their children’s education. While that does not necessarily mean involvement in a school council, it does indicate the need for parents for be part of the decision-making process. And that is the INTENT of school councils.
How do things change so that frustration, distrust and inaction disappear? I believe we have to begin with effective training of school councils and staff around the INTENT and possibilities for school councils. If no-one truly understands what can and should be done, how will they ever be successful? And that is where PICs can begin to support their councils.
Of course, it begs the question “Are PICs (CPICs) – and their Boards – properly trained in Regulation 612?” My experience says maybe not.
Nancy
Dec 16, 2014 @ 15:46:07
Shelia: Many thanks for your thoughtful reply. And for inviting me to post.
I think the ‘hole’ may the be result of poor training for all members on the roles, responsibilities and possibilities of Councils. It existed at the beginning but has fallen off in the 18 years since. The result is a loss of potential for partnering that was intended by the legislation.
Many school groups (whatever their name) do wonderful things for their students. They are to be congratulated. But many struggle without guidance or support and that’s too bad. Because I continue to be excited about all they could be!
Jan 02, 2015 @ 10:36:24
It seems to continue to be between a rock and a hard place at times. If parents participate as a separate group from school council, what do they gain? But also, what might they lose? Is it right if a group takes on the role of school council in only some areas but not others? I have often worried that if parents don’t work with the mandated structure and guidelines, then they risk not having a voice in education and may not have the proper channels and support in place just when it might be needed most.
Jan 08, 2015 @ 09:30:19
Sheila I don’t see it as an either/or kind of thing. I don’t worry about what I will lose/gain by being a school council or other parent group because the schools I work at do BOTH. I am a strong advocate of school councils and PICs so that parents have a voice in the system. I have been council chair for many years and am a PIAC rep for my Ward, but I am also highly involved in other parent activities that take place outside of the strict 612 regulations. I don’t think one is more important than the other and I do think that both are necessary. Not all parents can or want to be a part of the school council, so as a council chair/PIAC rep I have to be their voice, but I can only do that if I know what they want/need/feel and that knowledge comes from building community, hosting school events, helping out in the classrooms, etc. – all not a part of reg. 612. I don’t feel that my efforts doing work outside of reg. 612 has lead to a risk of me losing my voice in the system – it has amplified it.
Jan 08, 2015 @ 22:50:58
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, experiences and perspectives from your roles, Trixie. I tend to think of school council roles as more encompassing, even of the roles “outside of 612”. I think I understand what you are saying and I realize our experiences come from very different districts in Ontario. Parent participation and numbers are often not sufficient to operate two separate groups/committees in some regions… at the school and board level. I see a few parallels as well… ie before PICs some boards already had district/regional parent groups. I didn’t see anything that suggested that the newly forms PICs should work with these (unmandated, if that is a word 🙂 ) groups. So some were replaced.. some found a way to work together through their own efforts.
I guess “intent” is one thing, but what informs that intent (or not) is another? If that makes sense. It can seem so “messy” at times, but maybe that is actually okay given some of the barriers… still pondering…
As for the Ministry to look at it…. I don’t know. There seems to be quite a few parents who know the ‘in and out’ of this stuff and the history, but is that knowledge base on the radar and/or wanted?
And I relate to what Nancy is saying as well. Although 612 has been around and “implemented” for some time, has it really had a fair shake (and support) yet?
Jan 07, 2015 @ 20:13:20
Thanks, Lisa and Nancy. Good points. I wonder if there is confusion and misunderstanding of the intent as well. If parent members don’t want the intent or “training” (some get their backs up about that word) … why isn’t a review by the Ministry in the works?
Jan 07, 2015 @ 22:52:00
Good question Sheila. Good question.
Jan 07, 2015 @ 23:52:01
WELL, Sheila, that gave me pause! My initial reaction was “No”, the regs will work if understood. But then I wondered if my interpretation was just that – an interpretation. If so, then MoE may need to review their INTENT and how it’s delivered. What must happen for everyone to be on the same page? How will they make sure that occurs?
Like any piece of legislation, Reg 612 is an organic thing that must, if needed, change with the times. I just caution that we not throw the baby out with the bath water. My interpretation might be correct and School Councils could be the road to partnerships between school and home.
Jan 08, 2015 @ 09:33:09
Good question Sheila! I have thought that it would be a good idea to revisit reg 612 to see how it was implemented, if it was working, what updates needed to be made. How would we get the Ministry to take a look at it?