Excerpt from the Preamble of the Act respecting the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation: 

"WHEREAS every child is entitled to the advantage of a system of education conducive to the full development of his personality;

"Whereas parents have the right to choose the institutions which, according to their convictions, ensure the greatest respect for the rights of their children;

"Whereas persons and groups are entitled to establish autonomous educational institutions and, subject to the requirements of the common welfare, to avail themselves of the administrative and financial means necessary for the pursuit of their ends;

"Whereas it is expedient, in accordance with these principles, to establish, as a think tank dedicated to the development of a global vision of education, a Conseil supérieur de l'éducation to collaborate with the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and to advise that Minister on any matter relating to education;

"Whereas an advisory committee responsible for advising the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports on the financial accessibility of education will be attached to the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation and any commission that the Conseil sees fit to establish may be attached to it."

The mission of the Conseil, as defined by the Act Respecting the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation, comprises a range of responsibilities and powers. Thus the role of Conseil is to advise the Minister on any education-related issues and consequently it must, at least every two years, prepare a report for the Minister on the state and needs of education.

In exercising its role the Conseil may:

• prepare briefs or give its opinion to the Minister on any education-related issues;
  
  
• seek or welcome requests, advice and suggestions on any education-related issues from organizations or groups as well as the public in general;
  
  
• conduct or commission studies and research which it deems useful or necessary for the exercising of its functions.

In brief, the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation is an independent body separate from the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. The Conseil may decide the topics and themes of its briefs and reports on the state and needs of education, and determine through its own internal regulations when and how they are made public. The Conseil is a body for consultation and critical analysis within a framework of democratic institutions at arm's length from pressure groups.