“Parents play a vital role in education. When parents are engaged and involved, everyone- students, parents and families, teachers, schools, and communities- benefits, and our schools become increasingly rich and positive places to teach, learn, and grow” – A Parent Engagement Policy for Ontario Schools, 2010.

Parents in Partnership: A Parent Engagement Policy for Ontario Schools

The Parent Engagement Policy for Ontario Schools, announced by the Ministry of Education, was established to support and enhance parental involvement in education. Released in conjunction with Ontario Regulation 330/10 (formerly 612/00), the Policy establishes the various ways in which parents can get involved, such as through membership on the Parent Involvement Committee. The Regulation outlines the regulatory requirements relating to PICs, including the requirement that all boards establish a PIC, and the provisions about the composition and function of PICs. Learn more by reading the School Councils and Parent Involvement Committee Regulations.

The policy provides the vision for parent involvement; sets out four strategies for success; includes an action plan for schools, boards and the ministry; and showcases some of the many exemplary practices across the province. The policy:

• recognizes and supports the important role parents have contributing to their children's learning at home and at school;

• recognizes, encourages and supports many forms of parent engagement;

• identifies strategies to remove barriers to parent involvement (e.g. communications and language);

• supports parents to acquire skills and knowledge they need to be engaged and involved in their child's learning;

• provides a parent voice at the local level (e.g. Parent Involvement Committees, and school councils and as well as individual parents talking to teachers and principals).