What Does the Canadian School Boards Association Do?
Public Education Representation
The CSBA represents provincial and territorial school board associations across Canada, bringing together the voices of democratically elected trustees. As a pan-Canadian association, CSBA advocates for the value of locally governed education, provides leadership on national issues, and promotes collaboration among elected local school boards. By doing so, CSBA ensures that the perspective of elected local school boards is heard federally and that the strength of local democracy in education is recognized as vital to the country’s future.
Advocacy and Leadership
The CSBA focuses on strengthening the national influence of democratically elected school boards as thought leaders and trusted partners in shaping educational policy. It encompasses advocacy efforts that are grounded in local realities but aimed at national impact ensuring the voices of school communities guide Canada’s public education future.
Supporting National Public Education Priorities
The CSBA works with member boards and education partners to advance Indigenous education student health and wellness. Moving from acknowledgment to accountability in fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action prioritizes long-term relationships with Indigenous communities and the inclusion ofIndigenous knowledges and leadership in education governance. Recognizing that mental health, nutrition, physical wellness, and safety are integral to learning. It ensures that health, wellness, and emerging developments are part of the national education conversation, with CSBA adding value by highlighting how these factors intersect with education systems to support thriving students and staff.
Why do School Boards Matter?
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While provincial governments fund public education through taxes, and oversee the public school program, democratically elected governing school boards play a critical role in the delivery of public education. The Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA) is proud to support these dedicated individuals in their work to bring community voice to public education and oversee the needs of their individual schools and jurisdictions.
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They partner with communities and provincial governments, and have done so for decades, evolving over time. Canadian school boards have helped build an equitable, accessible, publicly funded education system.
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In addition to the value of democratic representation in public education, they act as navigators for families and the public when they have questions or concerns about their schools. They advocate for education funding and highlight the importance of equitable access to education regardless of where students live in their province. And above all, they care about students and the future of education.
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By having their finger on the pulse of their communities, elected school board members or trustees know what their students, schools, and communities need because they are members of the communities themselves. With regional representation, communities have better access to the resources required to meet the needs of their students.
School Board Structure & Trustee Profile
In 2015, the Canadian School Boards Association created a cross-country portrait of school board structures and the public education system. Building on this work, a 2018 research initiative surveyed over 1,300 trustees (37% of Canadian trustees across nine jurisdictions) to understand their demographics, including age, education, work hours, gender, parental status, profession, and compensation. The findings revealed that school board representation is diverse and fully representative of the communities served, comprising educated professionals, former educators, and engaged parents—often balancing board duties alongside young families..
Cross Country Overview
The Canadian School Boards Association is made up of school board and trustee associations from across the country.
Click on the our provincial association logos below, to find out the most recent news and activity.
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