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Parent Association, Parent Council, and School – what’s the difference?
Parent Association, Parent Council, and School – what’s the difference?
The “Henry Wise Wood Parent & Alumni Association” is a separate organization from “Henry Wise Wood School” and the “Henry Wise Wood School Council.”
Henry Wise Wood School is operated through the Calgary Board of Education.
The “Henry Wise Wood School Council” is a council that provides guidance, oversight, and feedback on school matters. It reports to the school and the school board.
The “Henry Wise Wood Parent & Alumni Association” is a registered society. Its goal is fundraising and disbursement of those funds for the benefit of the school.
Separate organizations for school governance (council) and fundraising (association) are required by CBE policy and for larger donors such as the AGLC.
Meetings for the School Council and the Parent Association usually take place back-to-back on the same evening once per month during the school year.
Why the differences?
Why the differences?
School Council
School Council
The School Council is for parent contribution to matters regarding the running and planning of the school.
The School Council is created through the education act. Alberta Education defines school councils as a collective association of parents, secondary students, the principal, teachers, and community representative(s) whose purpose is to advise the principal and the Board of Trustees respecting matters related to the school. School councils have legislated advisory and decision-making authority defined within the Education Act and the School Councils Regulation 94/2019.
The School Council typically discusses matters such as:
Feedback on school planning and direction
Reporting to the Calgary Board of Education
Advising the principal and board of trustees on school matters
Parent & Alumni Association
Parent & Alumni Association
The Parent & Alumni Association is for matters regarding fundraising for the school and parent-led events for the school.
The Parent & Alumni Association is a registered society. Rules around fundraising require that there be arms-length separation between the organization doing the fundraising and the beneficiary of those funds.
The Parent & Alumni Association typically discusses:
Fundraising
Events
Donation of raised funds for the benefit of the school
More information
More information
Calgary Board of Education – School Councils – Details on the role of school councils within the CBE.
Calgary Board of Education – Community of School Councils Meetings – A larger association of school councils across the school board.
Calgary Board of Education – Parent Societies & Associations – A description of the role of parent associations and the differences with parent councils.
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