Parents' Association

Verified 20 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

An association of parents of pupils includes parents of pupils or third parties (guardian, curator...) responsible for the education of at least one pupil. Its purpose is to represent the interests of families within a school, to participate in the life of the school and to promote the link between parents and the institution. We present you the main information on this subject.

An association of parents of pupils consists exclusively of parents of pupils and third parties (guardian, curatormember of the extended family such as an uncle, an aunt, etc.) responsible for the education of at least one pupil.

An association of parents of pupils aims to defense the following interests:

  • Moral interests (equal treatment of pupils, ensuring the safety of children in educational establishments)
  • Material interests (upgrading of premises, reasonable cost of school meals and accessible to all) common to parents of pupils.

The parents' association also aims to representing parents in schools (school, college, high school).

Information for parents

For inform families on the activities and on the life of the establishment, the parents' association may disseminate documents. These must be clearly identified as coming from parents' associations. Their content must comply with the following rules:

  • Principle of secularism
  • Provisions concerning privacy
  • Prohibition of any insult, defamation or propaganda in favor of a political party or commercial company.

The parents' association provides its documents to the school leaders. The latter are responsible for distributing them as they go to the students to be given to their parents.

The conditions for dissemination are defined, in consultation, between the head of establishment and the associations.

During the week of the new school year, to guarantee equal treatment between associations, the distribution of documents takes place simultaneously and under the same conditions.

The parents' association or the head of the school may refer the case to the rector of the academy in the following situations:

  • In case of disagreement on the conditions of broadcasting
  • Where the head of the school considers that the content of a document does not comply with the principles of the public education service

The rector of the academy then has 7 days to make a decision.

If no reply is received within this period, the document shall be circulated.

Meetings and services for parents or students

An association of parents of pupils may organize of briefings (on the operation of the school, the dispensation of teaching,...) for the attention of parents or students, with or without the participation of teachers.

It may also propose and organize some services (e.g. school support) for parents or pupils.

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Meeting or service related to teaching activities

Where the meeting or service is directly related to teaching activities or is of particular interest to students and families, the authorization of the City Hall is not mandatory.

This is the case, for example, for information meetings on the organization of loans and bursaries of supplies, books.

However, it is recommended that the association inform the town hall and take out insurance.

Other meeting or service

When the meeting or the service is not directly related to the needs of the training (fair, clothing exchange,...), the association must request the prior authorization of the town hall.

Before granting its authorization, the City Council consults the school or administrative council (and the local authority that owns the buildings in the case of a college or high school).

The mayor may also submit his authorization to the signing of an agreement. The latter specifies in particular the obligations of the parents' association in terms of safety, the scope of its liability and the conditions for compensation for any damage.

In the absence of an agreement, the municipality is liable for any damages, unless the liability of a third party is established.

School insurance

The parents' association is the only one that can distribute the proposals to the parents through the students school insurance.

The insurance proposal and the membership form must be presented in a single document or group of documents.

The resources are as follows:

  • Membership fees of its members, associations, federations and sections of associations of parents of adhering pupils
  • Public or private subsidies
  • Donations, contributions (local company, community organizations, parents...
  • Fundraising (fair, lottery,...).

The establishment of a parent-student association is subject to the same rules of creating only one association law 1901.

However, in addition to being at least 2 founders and having to file the statutes in the prefecture, it is necessary to make yourself known (to other parents, teachers,...) within the school.

It is often advisable (but not mandatory) to provide a - in addition to the statutes to specify the operating procedures.

À the school, the parents' association may be represented in school board.

At college or at high school, it may be represented in board of directors and at class council.

Please note

The parents' association may also be represented on the Higher Council of Education (CSE) and on the academic and departmental councils of the National Education.

The parents' association may become acquainted with and obtain a copy of the list of parents of pupils of the school. This list mentions their names, postal addresses and e-mail, provided that the parents have given their express consent to this communication.

The parents' association must benefit from material means, such as mailbox and that one billboard located in a place accessible to parents.

It may obtain, free of charge, from the State or local authorities, computer hardware that is no longer in use.

Please note

An association of parents of pupils may not establish its head office in a school premises.

Yes. In each establishment school, the list of parent associations, with the names and contact details of the persons responsible, must be displayed in a place accessible to the public.

The same applies to the list of federations, unions or associations of parents of pupils represented on the Higher Council of Education and on the academic and departmental councils of National Education.

Yes, parents' associations can be federated or unionized and thus be more representative.

The role of the departmental unions may be, for example, to coordinate the actions of parents' associations within the department and to defend the interests of parents and students in the field of education.

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