CMR-PR-002: Parents and Citizens' Associations - State Schools

• Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld) Chapter 7 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrA06.pdf
• Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 (Qld) Part 6 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrR06.pdf
• Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982 (Qld) http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/S/StatutryBodA82.pdf
• Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/management.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200401745

• FCM-PR-002: Assessment, Closure or Mothballing of Unviable Schools /strategic/eppr/facility/fcmpr002/index.html
• FNM-PR-013: Loans Sought by Parents and Citizens' Associations /strategic/eppr/finance/fnmpr013/

Statement of intent

Every State school will establish a Parents and Citizens' Association (the Association). Every effort will be made to avoid dissolution of an Association.

Every Association will adopt a Model Constitution 301k. Associations will hold a sufficient number of meetings in order to undertake the functions of the Association - at least three meetings per semester. Membership of an Association should include a balance of interested persons over the age of 18 including:

• parents of current students
• interested members of the community (citizens)
• students over the age of 18 and
• staff members of the school.

Every Association, including an interim Association, is bound by the requirements of the P&C Accounting Manual.

Education Queensland supports the preference of the Association to operate the school tuckshop. Where the school wishes to operate the school tuckshop, a business case rationale is endorsed by the Association.

New Schools
Following an announcement of a proposed new school or a school being created by the amalgamation of two or more schools, either the regional director, appointed project manager to establish the school or appointed principal will call a public meeting of interested prospective parents and other adult members of the school community to form an interim Association to assist the school to determine necessary matters such as the Student Dress Code, the Responsible Behaviour Plan, the Enrolment Agreement and the Enrolment Management Plan.

The interim Association adopts the Model Constitution 301k and remains in place until the first Annual General Meeting of the new school.

Responsibilities

Principal:

• calls a meeting of parents and other adult members of the school community to form an Association
• monitors that the Association adheres to all the relevant legislative requirements
• progresses to the regional director a request to waive the 'Restriction on who may be a member of executive committee' if relevant
• ensures that all members of the Executive Committee who are not parents of current students at the school apply for a suitability notice with the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
• facilitates the adoption of a Parents and Citizens' Association Constitution 301k
• approves all new constitutions and formally advises the Association 30k and regional office of the approval
• progresses the approval of all amendments to existing Parents and Citizens' Association Constitutions to the Regional Director, and
• keeps on record, on behalf of the Association, a copy of the approved constitution and a copy of the letter from the Australian Taxation Office advising the Association of its Income Tax Exempt Charity status.

Parents and Citizens' Associations:

• adopt the Model Constitution seeking approval from the school principal, and
• seek written approval for any subsequent amendments to the Constitution from the Regional Director.

Regional Director:

• approves waiver of 'Restriction on who may be a member of executive committee', if relevant
• approves all amendments of existing Constitutions
• maintains a list of schools with approved Model Constitutions.
  

Forms

• Model Constitution 301k
• P&C Constitution Approval letter 30k

• Not Applicable

Other relevant documents

• P&C Accounting Manualhttp://education.qld.gov.au/finance/procedure/pandc/
• P&C Operations Manual http://www.qcpca.org.au/publications/manuals/pc-operations-manual
• Parents and Citizens' Associationhttp://education.qld.gov.au/corporate/pandc/
• Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian website http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/index.html

Contacts

For information on formation of state school P&C, contact:

For information on formation of state school P&C, contact:

For information on formation of state school P&C, contact:

• CMR-PR-002: Formation of State School Parents and Citizens' Assocation - Version: 1.0, 1.1