Overview
The purpose of the Principal Advisory Council is to bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.
The members of the Principal Advisory Council are accountable to the constituents they serve and shall:
Maintain a school-wide perspective on issues;
· Act as a link between the school and the community;
· Encourage the engagement of parents and other stakeholders within the school community; and
· Work to increase student achievement and performance through transparent operations and shared best practices.
The Principal Advisory Council operates under the control and management of the DeKalb County School District and will follow Board of Education policies and procedures. The Principal Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the school principal, the local board of education and local school superintendent on matters related to school climate/culture, student achievement, and community partnerships.
Principal Advisory 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 Principal Advisory 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.