Parents' Association As An Important Element Of A School System In A Democratic Society

The article offers a brief overview of the way of parents of the primary-school children organizing in the independent Slovenia. Some key changes of the legislation, defining the responsibilities of parents council are presented, as well as a chronological survey of establishing parents associations which are exceeding the limits of an individual primary school. A short comparison to the parents' organizations in other European countries is also given. Special attention is paid to the importance of collaboration of parents with other stakeholders of the school system on all levels, from an individual and a single school, up to a national level. The article outlines the present status of parents associating in Slovenia as well as it briefly presents the Association of Parents Council Working Groups of Slovenia, being the most representative organization of parents in Slovenia, legally grounded in the framework school act.