Updated September 2026
Councils & advisory bodies
School Councils, Parent Involvement Committees, and SEAC are the formal parent structures. Use them for transparency requests and systemic issues.
School Council / School Community Council
Every school must have a council. Under Ontario Regulation 612/00, its purpose is to improve pupil achievement and enhance accountability to parents by making recommendations to the principal and the board.
- Parents must form the majority. The chair must be a parent who is not a board employee.
- Elections (or acclamation) of parent members must be held during the first 30 days of the school year.
- A person is qualified if they are a parent of a pupil enrolled in the school.
- Councils may recommend any matter to the principal or board. The principal/board must report back on how the recommendation was considered.
- Meetings are public. Minutes must be kept.
This is the highest-leverage local step for most parents: attend, join, and table a motion for advance curriculum notice. Sample motion.
DDSB SCC Handbook (includes a sample nomination form): 2025 SCC Handbook PDF
Parent Involvement Committee (PIC / DCPIC)
Board-level committee, also under O. Reg. 612/00. Advises the Director and trustees on parent engagement across the system — not a replacement for your school council, but a place to raise board-wide notification and consultation issues.
Meeting dates are on the Key Dates page. Confirm the current year’s calendar with the board.
SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee)
Required by the Education Act. Advises the board on special education programs and services. Relevant if identity-related practices intersect with special education, mental health, or individual education plans.
School Council vs PIC vs trustees
| Body | Level | What it can do | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Council | One school | Recommend to the principal/board; request information; record motions in minutes | Curriculum notice, library lists, school events, PPM 162 timing at your school |
| PIC / DCPIC | Whole board | Advise Director and trustees on parent engagement | System-wide communication gaps, parent-portal transparency |
| Trustees | Whole board | Set policy, budget, hire/oversee the Director | Policy on preferred names, board-wide PPM 162 compliance, after school-level steps fail |