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 the 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 et de l’Enseignement supérieur. 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.

The Conseil supérieur de l’éducation (CSE) comprises 22 members – including its President – representing the field of education and other sectors of Québec society.

These members are appointed by the Government following consultation with associations or organizations that are most representative of students, parents, teachers, school administrators and socio-economic groups. The Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education or his or her substitute is ex officio an associate member, but is not entitled to vote.