What Does the BC School Act Say About Parents' Associations?

Part 2, Division 2 of the School Act governs the creation and functioning of parents' associations. These sections set out the process for the creation of a parents' association, its mandate, and its duties.

Here's a summary:

Parents' Entitlements

Section 7 

• Subsection (1) (c) stipulates that a parent of a student of school age attending a school is entitled to belong to a parents' advisory council (PAC in English, or association de parents d’élèves – APÉ in French) established under Section 8 of the School Act.

Establishment of a Parents' Advisory Council (PAC)

Section 8

• Subsection (1) says that parents of students of school age attending a school may apply to the school board to establish a PAC for that school.
• Subsection (2) indicates that on receipt of the application, the school board must establish a PAC for the school.
• Subsection (3) states that there can be only one PAC per school.

Power of a Parents' Advisory Council (PAC)

Section 8 

• Subsection (4) stipulates that the PAC, through its elected representatives, can advise the school board, the principal, and the staff of the school on any matter relating to the school.

Duties of a Parents' Advisory Council (PAC)

Section 8

• Subsection (5) mentions that the PAC, in consultation with the school principal, must develop a set of bylaws governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs, including bylaws governing the dissolution of the PAC.

What Does the BC School Act Say About School Plans?

Part 2, Division 2 of the School Act contains sections that govern school plans.

School Plan

Section 8.3 

• Subsection (1) says that each school year, a school board must approve a school plan for every school in the school district.
• Subsection (2) says that a school board must make a school plan approved under subsection (1) available to the parents of students attending that school.

Since July 2015, the School Act no longer contains information on School Planning Councils. Previously, the School Act stipulated that these councils should develop the school plans.

The School Act still talks about the school plan, but without defining how the plan should be developed. Each school board is therefore free to determine the process for developing a school plan. The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique favours a committee of partners (Comité de partenaires) as a mechanism for developing school plans. 

If you wish to refer to the School Act, please go to the following website:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/legislation-policy/legislation/schoollaw/revisedstatutescontents.pdf