A Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a formal body within many Canadian schools, designed to give parents a voice in school decision-making. PACs typically advise principals, help shape school priorities, and organize events or fundraising activities. In some provinces, such as British Columbia, every public school is required by law to have a PAC.
The Current Reality
While PACs are intended to amplify parent voices, their actual influence often depends on:
Who participates: Those with time, resources, and confidence are more likely to engage, leaving marginalized voices absent.
Scope of power: PACs often focus on fundraising and event planning rather than meaningful policy input.
Representation gaps: Councils may not fully reflect the diversity of the school community.
Why It Matters
PACs could be much more than bake sales and fun fairs. They can be hubs for advocacy, equity, and partnership, ensuring parents help shape not just school culture but education policy itself.
Canadian Context
Provincial differences: The role and authority of PACs vary across Canada. Some act as advisory-only, while others feed into district or provincial parent federations.
Equity concerns: Schools in affluent areas often have stronger PACs, raising more funds and influencing outcomes, while those in lower-income areas struggle.
Policy influence: PACs have occasionally shaped provincial debates, from curriculum changes to funding models, showing their potential power.
The Opportunities
Training and support: Equipping parents with the tools to understand budgets, policy, and governance.
Equity safeguards: Providing resources to schools where PAC fundraising is limited.
Stronger mandates: Expanding PAC authority beyond fundraising to include input on curriculum, safety, and inclusion.
Digital access: Offering online participation options to reduce barriers to involvement.
The Bigger Picture
If PACs are truly to represent parent power, they need both the mandate and the means to shape education. Reinventing them could transform councils from token advisory groups into genuine partners in governance.
The Question
How could Canada move from PACs as helpers to PACs as power-brokers in education, while ensuring they remain inclusive and equitable?
PAC to Power: Reinventing Parent Councils
What is a PAC?
A Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a formal body within many Canadian schools, designed to give parents a voice in school decision-making. PACs typically advise principals, help shape school priorities, and organize events or fundraising activities. In some provinces, such as British Columbia, every public school is required by law to have a PAC.
The Current Reality
While PACs are intended to amplify parent voices, their actual influence often depends on:
Why It Matters
PACs could be much more than bake sales and fun fairs. They can be hubs for advocacy, equity, and partnership, ensuring parents help shape not just school culture but education policy itself.
Canadian Context
The Opportunities
The Bigger Picture
If PACs are truly to represent parent power, they need both the mandate and the means to shape education. Reinventing them could transform councils from token advisory groups into genuine partners in governance.
The Question
How could Canada move from PACs as helpers to PACs as power-brokers in education, while ensuring they remain inclusive and equitable?