APEL
WHO ARE WE?
With its 977,000 members, APEL (Association of Parents of Students in Independent Education) is the largest national association of parents of students. It is also the only parents' association recognized in the Statute of Catholic Education.
APEL is present in:
• 6500 institutions
• 5000 primary schools
• 1600 middle schools
• 1100 high schools.
The APELs were created more than 80 years ago by parents who wanted to be involved in the life of their children's schools.
Every day, thousands of volunteers actively collaborate on the educational projects of the institutions. APEL is committed to the future of 2 million children whose parents have freely chosen a school and its educational project.
The APELs act and engage in school life. They are responsible for representing parents within the institutions, as well as with the leaders of the educational system and public authorities.
APEL also supports parents in their educational role through various services: the Family Information and Advisory Service, the magazine *Famille & éducation*, the website www.apel.fr, and the APEL Service hotline. Drawing on parents’ experience, the APELs contribute to educational debates, whether through conferences in schools, regional symposiums, national congresses, or public positions on proposed reforms. Finally, the APELs continue to defend freedom of education and the freedom to choose a school.
A SINGLE MOVEMENT FOR A DIVERSITY OF PARENTS
"Representing all parents within Catholic educational institutions, the APEL movement is apolitical and non-denominational. Able to overcome our differences by uniting around a common project, we represent 1,500,000 families who, in the diversity of their social, cultural, political, philosophical or religious identities, have freely chosen to entrust their children to a Catholic educational institution" (APEL Movement Project)
APEL website link: https://www.apel.fr/