How to Solve a Concern at School
Most concerns at schools can be solved through meeting with teachers
and if necessary principals and vice-principals at school.
See the VSB Conflict Resolution Process for School-Based Concerns to see the process that parents/guardians should follow.
The Vancouver School Board recognizes and respects the fact that parents/guardians and/or students may sometimes strongly disagree with decisions made by school employees. In this rare case a formal appeal process may be launched but only when an attempt has been made to resolve the issues at school.
A formal appeal must involve decisions that significantly affect the health, education or safety of a child at school. Examples of this type of decisions are:
- disciplinary suspension from school for more than five (5) consecutive instructional days
- the transfer of a student from one school to another for disciplinary reasons
- the exclusion of a student from school for a health condition
- significant decisions regarding placement in an educational program (classroom preference issues would be included in this category only in exceptional circumstances)
- grade promotion or graduation
- refusal to offer an education program to a non-graduated student sixteen (16) years of age or older
More information on filing a formal appeal:
- Information on how to launch a formal appeal
- Notice of Appeal Form (pdf) - to be completed by the parent/guardian and student and delivered to the School Principal
- By-law No. 2 - Section 11 Appeal Procedure