ACSSO was formed in 1947 to develop national parent organisation policies in education and to represent these policies and the interests of its affiliates at the national level.

ACSSO provides research-based input to the Australian Government on proposed policies and actions in the education area, plus a range of information and support services to State and Territory affiliate organisations and their membership networks. Our functions are increasingly diverse and extensive, and include in particular to:

• conduct, commission and publish research on educational issues
  
• lead and facilitate public debate and discussion to establish the strategic directions and priorities for education
  
• provide an interactive information service to government and to schools and their communities
  
• ensure that community needs and priorities are reflected in education decision making processes
  
• develop and manage a range of initiatives and community projects to improve the effective involvement of parents and families in student learning and development.

ACSSO provides research and information material to affiliates on issues relating to its policies. It maintains contact with other organisations on matters of common concern and ensures that its policies and those of its affiliates are made known as widely as possible to policy makers, to parents, students and the general public.

ACSSO believes that it is the responsibility of schools and the school system to ensure equity of access to an appropriate range of opportunities for all students. All children have the right to schooling which gives them independent access to knowledge as well as the skills and understanding necessary to shape their own lives and to participate in shaping the society in which they live.

ACSSO is committed to the principles of access, equality, equity of outcomes, excellence and participatory democracy.

• Access means a public education system available to all, irrespective of their age, capacity to pay, class, culture, gender, level of ability, location, religion / belief, or sexual orientation.

• Equality is dependent on recognition that all children have a capacity to learn. Learning is the construction of meaning from experience. School practices must acknowledge and build on the culture and experiences children bring to school. Children have a right to develop their skills, knowledge and aptitudes in challenging but personally successful and fulfilling ways.
  
• Equity in educational outcomes means all social groups should, as a result of schooling, have comparable distributions of educational outcomes.
  
• Excellence means that the public school system must provide the highest quality education for all.
  
• Participatory democracy means a partnership of students, parents and teachers in school and system decision making. It also means that students should, as a result of schooling, have the knowledge, skills and understandings necessary to shape their own lives and to participate effectively in shaping society. This will enable students to learn how to learn throughout their lives for the benefit of themselves and others. Public education must develop among all students a sense of justice as well as respect and concern for others.

ACSSO believes that public education must remain secular and be fully funded by government.

ACSSO's governing body is the Annual Conference to which each State and Territory sends four voting delegates. Each conference elects an Executive representing each of the affiliate member organisations to carry out the policies and coordinate the activities of ACSSO during the year.

ACSSO's Executive Committee comprises:

• the President
  
• the Office Bearers
  
• the Vice Presidents
  
• the Executive Officer

ACSSO's working budget is provided by the affiliation fees of member bodies and an annual government Grant-in-Aid.

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