Parent Engagement

What is Parent Engagement?

Photo of parent reading with children
Engagement is a relationship between home and school that supports and improves student outcomes. Parents contribute to their children's learning at many levels:
  • At home, parents create the conditions to support student learning (e.g. read to their children, talk about school and help with homework).
  • At school, parents participate in parent-teacher dialogues, volunteer in the school and on school trips, and participate on school councils.
  • At the board, parents provide advice on parent engagement and communicating with parents as members of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) such as PIAC.

Importance of Parent Engagement

Parent engagement matters. Studies show that student achievement and wellbeing improves when parents play an active role in their children's education, and that good schools become even better schools when parents are involved. Students are more likely to be motivated, to earn higher grades, to have better behaviour and social skills, and to continue their education to a higher level when their parents are actively engaged in supporting their success at school.

Parent Voice

There are many ways to bring parent knowledge to the education system.
  • Join your School Council;
  • Volunteer in your children's school;
  • Join a School Committee. Parent members are required on school committees including Safe & Caring Schools, Staffing, and the School Improvement Plan. Parents are also encouraged by the Board to join the school's Budget committee;
  • Attend Ward council meetings. Ward meetings provide an opportunity for parents in the ward to meet with their local school trustee to discuss issues of common concern and for parents to learn about TDSB programs and initiatives;
  • Participate in the Consultation process. Provide feedback on education changes or initiatives to the TDSB or Ministry of Education via surveys, public forums, and committees; or
  • Join (or attend the meeting of) a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) or Community Liaison Group (CLG).
    • Including PIAC, the TDSB has 12 Community Advisory Committees that advise the Board on its policies and programs, in addition to providing an advocacy role for parents and the community.
    • Community Liaison Groups facilitate an ongoing working relationship between the TDSB and system-wide community groups.

School Improvement Plan (SIP)

A School Improvement Plan (SIP) (PDF, 1.4mb) is prepared by the principal in consultation with parents and the school community.  The SIP is developed each fall and provides a set of research-based school improvement actions that meet the needs of every student, with a particular focus on reducing the achievement gap for students or groups of students who have been identified by school data to be at risk. The SIP has three umbrellas: Equity, Wellbeing, and Achievement. Parents are encouraged to participate in the development of the school's SIP. School Councils are also encouraged to review the SIP when planning activities and addressing parent engagement.

School Statement of Needs (SSoN)

The parent section of the School Statement of Needs document is developed annually in the fall by parent representatives (school council) in consultation with the school community and the trustee (when available). The SSoN is used by the Superintendent to hire a new Principal in the event of a vacancy. The SSoN reflects needs that are specific to the school and community. Use these resources for completing your SSoN: SSoN Parent Guide, the Template for a Letter to Parents, and the SSoN Form (pdf) or SSoN Form (doc)

Principal / Vice Principal Selection

The Toronto District School Board includes a Parent Representative on its Principal and Vice-Principal Interview Committees each year. If you are interested in more information or participating, please contact info@torontopiac.com or contact the Parent and Community Engagement office   michelle.munroe@tdsb.on.ca.

Engaging Parents in Your School Council

How do we get parents interested in School Council?  More parents are attracted to School Council when council is a resource for parents and not a task.
 
School Council planning should incorporate the two arms of your mandate (as defined in O. Reg. 612): improving student achievement, and enhancing the accountability of the education system to parents. Evaluate the needs of your school using the School Improvement Plan (SIP) (PDF, 1.4mb), staff & family input, and feedback from School Committees.
 
Research has shown, time after time, that what parents do at home is what improves student achievement. Choose council activities that support student achievement by building parent capacity and representing parent knowledge on the required School Committees.
 
Supporting families and building partner relationships within your school community is fulfilling the School Council mandate. Striving for authentic parent engagement will make your council more meaningful within your school community.
 
Try incorporating some of these ideas into your School Council meeting schedule to develop deeper parent/family engagement.
  • Invite a teacher to speak at your School Council meeting about education initiatives being used in the classroom
  • Invite your school Social Worker to speak about the Mental Health issues most commonly faced at your school
  • Invite your Guidance Counsellor to give a parent presentation on course selection
  • Have a meeting where the Principal unpacks the Student Census data for parents
  • Host a Math Night for families
  • Host a multi-cultural Pot Luck
  • Run a multi-cultural Recipe Share on your Social Media platform
  • Ask the Principal to explain the school budget
  • Invite parents to a School Improvement Plan (SIP) session
  • Host a family nutrition event
  • Invite your Public Health Nurse to present – variety of free sessions

Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants

  • PRO grants are funds provided annually by the Ontario Ministry of Education for initiatives that increase parent engagement in education.
  • Currently PRO grants are distributed directly to school boards as Program Priorities Funding (PPF)
  • The TDSB consults with PIAC, Superintendents and Trustees to distribute the funds allocated to our board
  • TDSB School Councils can apply for grants in the Fall