What laws affect students involvement in education decision-making?
Across Canada, there is increasing interest in involving in education decision-making. Many provinces and district school boards use laws as a reason whether or not to involve students. This page is a province-by-province summary of laws affecting student involvement in decision-making, and was compiled for SoundOut.
The practice of relying on laws can ensure rigor and sustainability in students’ roles.
This article identifies whether it is legal to involve students in several provinces. If a province is not listed, we do not currently have information. Please share your thoughts, ideas, information, concerns and other comments below.
The following shows there is a genuine absence of policies across Canada providing for student involvement in policy-making.
| Province | Summary of the law(s) |
| Alberta | As of 1995, the Alberta Education Act allowed for student involvement at the local level on school councils. |
| British Columbia | The B.C. Department of Education has initiated policies for student involvement in policy-making at the local school level through the BC School Accreditation Program. The department has not produced policies providing for student involvement at the departmental level. |
| Manitoba | Status unknown; law unknown |
| New Brunswick | Status unknown; law unknown |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Status unknown; law unknown |
| Northwest Territories | Status unknown; law unknown |
| Nova Scotia | Status unknown; law unknown |
| Nunavut | Status unknown; law unknown |
| Ontario | The Ontario Department of Education has established policies that provide for student involvement at the district level as non-voting trustees on district boards The Ontario Department of Education has no policies for student involvement at the department level. Section 55 of the Ontario Education Act allows students serving as district trustees to have the same participation as adult trustees in terms of making presentations and raising concerns. Student trustees are not permitted to vote on policies. |
| Prince Edward Island | Status unknown; law unknown |
| Quebec | The Quebec Ministry of Education does not have a formal avenue for student involvement on school boards |
| Saskatchewan | The Saskatchewan School Boards Association has established policies that provide for student involvement at the local and district levels. The Saskatchewan Department of Education has not created any policies providing for student involvement at the departmental level, including school boards. |
| Yukon | Status unknown; law unknown |
In 1999, students had representation in policy-making at the local level on school councils in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. *
Students on School Boards Toolkit
- Students on School Boards Toolkit Homepage
- Students on School Boards Fact Sheet
- Terms Related to Students on School Boards
- Activities for Students on School Boards
- Rationale for Students on School Boards
- How to Get Students on School Boards
- Options for Student Voice on School Boards
- Should School Boards Elect or Select Student Members?
- Barriers to Students on School Boards
- Outcomes from Students on School Boards
- Quotes about Students on School Boards
- Critical Questions about Students on School Boards
- Data Related to Students on School Boards
- State Directory of Laws Affecting Students on School Boards
- State Directory of Students on School District Boards
- State Directory Students on District School Boards
- Directory of Students on State Boards of Education
- Sources for the Students on School Boards Toolkit
- Publications about Students on School Boards
- Additional Info Related to Students on School Boards
Students on School Boards in Canada
- Directory of Canadian Province Laws Affecting Students on School Boards
- Guide to Students on Canadian School Boards [PDF]
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