School Council

School Council Mandate

The A+ Education Reform Act (HB1187) established school councils in Georgia to "bring communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to solve difficult education problems, improve academic achievement, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the school-based decision-making process."

- School councils provide advice, recommendations, and assistance to principals and local boards of education.

- The management and control of public schools remains the responsibility of local boards of education.

- The school leader is the principal, who also serves as the chair of the school council.

Every Gwinnett school has a school council. School councils are comprised of 7 council members who serve 2-year terms. The Principal serves as the chair. The membership includes 2 certificated teachers elected by the teachers, 2 parents (or guardians) elected by the parents, and 2 businesspersons, one appointed by the local board of education and 1 elected by the other 5 non-business members of the council.

All members of the School Council must:

- Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues,

- Regularly participate in council meetings,

- Participate in information and training programs,

- Act as a link between the school council and the community,

- Encourage the participation of parents and others within the school

community, and

- Work to improve student achievement and performance.

School councils are advisory bodies. They may provide advice and recommendations to the school principal and local board of education on any matter, including but not limited to: school calendar; school codes for conduct and dress; curriculum, program goals, and priorities; responses to school audits conducted by the Office of Accountability; preparation and distribution of a school profile to the community; recommendation of a school principal in the case of a vacancy; school budget priorities; school-community communication strategies; methods of reporting to parents and the community; Extracurricular activities; school-based and community services; community use of the school facility; recommendations concerning school board policies; Reviewing reports regarding progress toward meeting student achievement goals; and methods and specifications for the delivery of early interventions.