School Advisory Councils (SAC)
School Advisory Councils play an important role in supporting student success at the school community level.
A School Advisory Council is an advisory body to the school principal, Regional Centre for Education, and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial on a range of issues related to the school and the school system.
Membership can vary, but generally consists of the school principal, parents, teachers, and other community members.
Click here to learn more about School Advisory Councils, including how the role changed in 2018.
Click here to see the Nova Scotia School Advisory Council Handbook. See below for more important SAC documents.
For more information, visit the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website.
Communication
Effective communication is a crucial component to ensure the success of SAC. The SAC and the school principal work closely to maintain effective communication with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD), Regional Centres of Education, and school communities.
Most communication between the SAC, Regional Centres and EECD flows through school principals. If you have any questions, please contact your school principal.
After speaking with the school principal, the next point of contact would be the School Supervisor.
Policy Consultation
SACs are responsible for advising principals and Regional Centres (or the CSAP) on various matters, such as the development of policies that promote student achievement and safe and inclusive schools, communication with parents and the school community, and any other matters referred to the SAC by the principal, RCE, CSAP, or the Minister.
Important Documents
- School Advisory Council Agreements - Content
- Developing School Advisory Council Bylaws
- School Advisory Council - Annual Report Template - June 2019
- School Advisory Council Regulations
- School Advisory Council Spending Guidelines
- SAC Consultation Feedback Summary - Extracurricular Activity Supervision Policy
- School Advisory Councils - Summary of Feedback From Focus Groups
- School Advisory Councils - Regional Meeting Fall 2018
- Terms of Use – GNSPES Accounts for SAC Chairs
- School Advisory Council - Annual Survey 2023-24
SAC Fall Conference Details: Click here
October 25, 2024 - Strengthening Local Voice – Provincial School Advisory Council Conference
- May 24, 2024 - Invitation to Provide Local Voice from SAC Perspective on an Important Topic (Provincial Code of Conduct Policy Review)
- April 24, 2024 - Invitation to Provide Local Voice from SAC Perspective on an Important Topic (Cell Phone Use in Schools)
- February 15, 2024 - Strengthening Local Voice - School Advisory Council (SAC) Innovation Fund Application Process
- December 18, 2023 - NSISP Presentation
- December 15, 2023 - School Food and Nutrition Policy SAC Survey Report
- December 5, 2023 - School Advisory Council Annual Survey
- December 1, 2023 - Update on Local Voice for SACs from the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
- November 16, 2023 - Professional Learning Sessions
- November 10, 2023 - Information on Spending Guidelines
- September 18, 2023 - 2022-23 Annual Report Summary
- May 5, 2023 - School Advisory Council Annual Survey Results
- May 4, 2023 - Video links regarding roles of SACs
- April 28, 2023 - Opportunity for SAC Input - School Food and Nutrition Policy
- December 9, 2022 - Local Voice Phase 2
- November 25, 2022 - ThoughtExchange Results
- November 17, 2022 - ThoughtExchange Input
- November 14, 2022 - School Advisory Council Annual Survey
- November 2, 2022 - Thank You Letter to SACs from Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
- November 1, 2022 - Professional Learning Sessions
- October 11, 2022 - 2021-22 Annual Report Summary