Parent and community involvement in school decision-making encourages greater ownership and ensures local needs are reflected. Decisions about student needs should include effective consultation and collaboration with stakeholders and open and transparent communication at all stages of the process.
To support informed decision-making, parents and community members need to understand the purpose, aims and background to the issue, as well as the findings of any relevant evidence-based research.
Reciprocal trust and ownership of decisions assists successful implementation.
Points to consider
- To what extent are goals, progress and achievements systematically and regularly monitored and refined if required?
- Is consultation and collaboration encouraging, open and honest?
- Does the school offer training and support to build parent leadership capacity, empowering parents to participate effectively in consultation?
- Does the school collaborate with the community by consulting on formal/informal decision-making, reviews and new school policies (for example, assessment, reporting and curriculum changes)? How?
- Has the school considered how it will include local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, Elders and community groups in decision-making processes?
- Are parents and community partners consulted as part of decision-making on issues in which they have particular expertise?
Access a copy of the
Decision making element of the Parent and Community Engagement Framework.