Local School Councils bring
schools and communities together to solve education problems, improve academic
achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents
into the decision-making process. Each council consists of a minimum of seven
members: four parents/guardians, two certified teachers, and the principal.
Members are trained to organize meetings and develop School Council bylaws,
understand advisory status and authority, recognize legal issues such as open
meetings and open records laws and confidentiality, make recommendations to
increase student achievement, and create a continuous improvement plan.
Councils provide an opportunity for local school decisions by representing the
interests of the school community to the principal, who in turn conveys the
information to Regional Superintendents, the Superintendent, and, if necessary,
the Board of Education.