Understanding the School Governance Council (SGC) Functionality Assessment Tool is vital for ensuring accountability, transparency, and collaborative leadership in Philippine secondary schools. In support of DepEd Order No. 26, s. 2022, which lays out the framework for establishing and operationalizing SGCs, this post aims to provide an in-depth, clarified, and strategic discussion of the 2023 SGC Functionality Tool — not just as a checklist, but as a reflection of educational leadership readiness.
Rather than repeating bullet-style FAQs, we will explore the deeper meanings, challenges, and implementation dynamics of each guideline, all while incorporating the most relevant keywords, cited references, and insights. ✅
🔍 What Is the SGC Functionality Assessment Tool Really Measuring?
According to the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development – School Effectiveness Division (BHROD-SED), the SGC Tool measures how well secondary schools demonstrate the functionality and performance of their School Governance Councils. But more than just compliance, it checks:
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The extent of shared leadership between stakeholders
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The strength of school-community partnerships
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The implementation of school-based management strategies
This assessment is more than procedural—it’s transformative. Secondary schools, including integrated schools with JHS and SHS, are the focus of this digital tool's deployment, which is available through specific Google Form links distributed via Regional Offices (ROs).
📥 Who Can Access the Tool and When?
Access is tightly managed. Only the RO and SDO composite teams with official submissions to the Central Office (CO) are given access to the Google Drives where the reports are stored. As clarified in the memorandum released on September 26, 2023, the SGC Tool is now officially open for input, with all Google Form links already disseminated.
For newly established secondary schools, they are exempted—unless they participated in the Baseline Survey. Only those who did so will be required to submit entries in the Endline Survey.
📤 On Re-accomplishing the Tool: Can We Submit Again?
Originally, once submitted, Means of Verification (MOVs) were considered final and immutable. But on January 23, 2024, the moratorium on re-accomplishments was lifted. Schools are now allowed to re-accomplish their tools, especially if improvements have been made or errors occurred.
However, it's essential to note that submitted MOVs cannot be edited. If changes are necessary, schools must resubmit entirely using the updated tool.
This decision reflects BHROD-SED’s responsiveness to field realities and its willingness to adapt its policies based on actual school performance data.
🧾 What Templates Should We Use for MOVs?
The official directive is clear: prescribed templates from BHROD-SED must be used. While schools may feel tempted to innovate or customize their documentation, standardization ensures clarity and comparability across all regions.
Those MOVs validated as functional in the Baseline Survey can still be reused, provided the school is referring to validated templates and not their own informal versions.
🧑🏫 Leadership Roles and Meeting Protocols Clarified
A common concern revolves around leadership transitions. If the PTA President serving as Co-Chair finishes their term, a new election is not immediately required. Instead, they continue their term for three consecutive school years, as stipulated in the SGC guidelines.
In organizing meetings, once the SGC is formed, it is no longer the principal but the SGC Co-Chairpersons who must issue the Notice of Meeting, with the principal merely “noting” the document.
📝 Validation and Reporting: What the SDO and RO Should Do
Another critical clarification: if an SDO Composite Team has validated an MOV, the RO cannot unilaterally overturn it. Coordination is key. The proper route is for the RO to recommend a review, which the SDO can then validate through established channels.
Validation can begin as soon as submissions come in, without waiting for all schools. This staggered approach encourages early submission and real-time processing.
Moreover, the SGC Re-accomplishment Monitoring Sheet (RMS) inside Report 2 is crucial. Every Friday, the BHROD-SED refreshes the data, so SDO teams must update their validation statuses based on the most recent submissions.
⚖️ On the Functional Indicators: What's Required vs. Advanced
The guidelines distinguish between Primary Sub-indicators (mandatory for functionality) and Other Sub-indicators (optional, but reflective of advanced SGC implementation). Schools striving for excellence may voluntarily pursue the latter as a sign of elevated governance maturity.
📎 Where to Access the Templates and Documents
Although you may only have “Viewer” access in the shared drives, you are encouraged to download the templates, personalize them, and submit them according to format.
Direct requests for access in Google Drive will not be approved unless done through proper RO-SDO-CO channels.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FAQs on the 2023 SGC Functionality Assessment Tool
🔚 Conclusion: Not Just a Tool, but a Transformation Framework
The SGC Functionality Assessment Tool isn't just about answering a form. It’s a leadership and partnership audit that reveals a school’s readiness for true community participation. With proper access, coordination, and compliance, it empowers schools to benchmark their governance practices and move forward with purpose.
📖 According to DepEd, the implementation of D.O. 26, s. 2022 seeks to institutionalize inclusive school leadership and shared accountability. The SGC tool, thus, becomes the measurement of that vision in motion.
❓ FAQ #1: Who shall accomplish the Google Forms version of the SGC Tool?
✅ Answer: Only secondary schools are required to accomplish the Google Forms version of the tool. This includes integrated schools with Junior High School (JHS) and/or Senior High School (SHS).
🔗 bit.ly/JDConsultativeWorkshop_Attendance
❓ FAQ #2: Are newly established secondary schools required to respond to the SGC Tool?
❌ Answer: No. Only those secondary schools that participated in the Baseline Survey are required to answer the Endline Survey.
🔗 bit.ly/JDConsultativeWorkshop_Attendance
❓ FAQ #3: Can secondary schools begin answering the tool?
✅ Answer: Yes. A memorandum was released on September 26, 2023, announcing the release of the SGC Functionality Tool. The Google Form links have been sent to the ROs, which must then disseminate to their respective SDOs. Refer to the process flow attached to the memo.
❓ FAQ #4: Where can we access the Google Form version of the tool?
📧 Answer: The memo with the specific Google Form links for each SDO was emailed to the RO composite team. Please coordinate directly with your RO Composite Team.
❓ FAQ #5: Can we go back to the tool and change the submitted MOVs?
🚫 Answer: No. Once the MOVs (Means of Verification) are submitted, they can no longer be edited or removed. It is crucial to ensure all MOVs are final before submission.
❓ FAQ #6: Can we re-accomplish the SGC Tool since MOVs can’t be edited?
✅ Answer: Yes. As of January 23, 2024, the moratorium (initially set on November 7) has been lifted. All secondary schools are now allowed to re-accomplish the SGC Functionality Tool.
❓ FAQ #7: Why can I not access the SGC Tool reports?
🔐 Answer: Only RO and SDO composite teams with officially submitted emails to the Central Office (CO) will be granted access. Requests sent directly through Google Drive will not be approved.
❓ FAQ #8: Why can’t I access the sample MOV templates?
📄 Answer: The shared drive is set to “View Only.” You may download the files and make changes locally on your computer. You cannot edit directly on the drive.
❓ FAQ #9: Do we need to comply with the Other Sub-indicators?
🔎 Answer: Only the Primary Sub-indicators are required for SGC functionality. However, accomplishing the Other Sub-indicators is highly encouraged as it reflects advanced implementation.
❓ FAQ #10: We’re already functional in some indicators during the Baseline Survey. Do we need to revise our MOVs using the suggested templates?
📝 Answer: No need to revise. You may continue to use the previous validated templates from the Baseline Survey, provided they were deemed functional.
❓ FAQ #11: Can we use our own school templates in preparing MOVs?
❌ Answer: No. All MOVs must follow the prescribed template issued by BHROD-SED.
❓ FAQ #12: If the elected Co-Chairperson’s term as PTA President ends, do we need to elect a new one?
👥 Answer: No. Elected SGC officers serve for three consecutive school years. If the PTA President becomes an SGC officer, they will step down as a PTA member and be replaced by another PTA representative.
❓ FAQ #13: Should the principal sign the Notice of the Meeting?
🖊️ Answer: If the SGC is not yet organized, the principal can initiate and sign the Notice of Meeting. However, once the SGC is formed, the Co-Chairpersons should issue and approve the notice, with the principal's role being “Noted by.”
❓ FAQ #14: If the SDO has validated an MOV, can the RO change the validation?
❌ Answer: No. The RO must coordinate with the SDO Composite Team. Any revalidation must be initiated and processed by the SDO.
❓ FAQ #15: Should the SDO Team wait for all schools to submit before validating?
❌ Answer: No. The SDO Composite Team may begin validating as soon as submissions are available.
❓ FAQ #16: Now that schools can re-accomplish the SGC Tool, should the SDO Team update their validation?
✅ Answer: Yes. The BHROD-SED will refresh Report 2: SDO Validation Tool every Friday. SDOs must refer to the SGC Re-accomplishment Monitoring Sheet (RMS) to identify updated submissions and revise validation statuses accordingly.