Supervisors will work at 20 of Canberra's busiest crossings under the pilot program, expected to improve safety at 23 public, independent and Catholic schools.

The ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations welcomed the move.

Executive officer Terry Sanders said: "The school crossing supervisor program, along with the election promise of traffic management plans for every public school, will give parents more confidence in the safety of school roads and crossings and we hope this will lead to more students walking to school."

Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris agreed the pilot program would likely encourage more families to walk or cycle to school.

"Walking or riding to school each day is a simple but effective way for children to get active and be healthier," she said.

"It also helps reduce congestion around schools with fewer cars competing at the school drop off and pick up."

Parents have long lobbied for crossing guards outside schools. O'Connor mother Mia Swainson last year told The Canberra Times a parent had been hit outside Lyneham Primary in 2015.

She said a van tried to squeeze between pedestrians at the busy intersection but hit the woman, who was walking slightly in front of her two children. The mother was taken to hospital and onlookers were shaken up, Ms Swainson then said.

Schools to benefit from the program are Amaroo School, Good Shepherd Primary, Brindabella Christian College's Lyneham campus, Canberra Girls Grammar School's junior school, Chapman Primary, Florey Primary, Forrest Primary, Garran Primary, Gold Creek School and Holy Spirit School, Harrison School, Hughes Primary, Lyneham Primary, Majura Primary, Mother Teresa, Namadgi School, Ngunnawal Primary, Red Hill Primary, St Clare of Assisi Primary, Sts Peter & Paul Primary and Malkara School, Trinity Christian School and Turner School.

Pedestrian and traffic volumes were collected at crossings near infant, primary and special needs schools, and the data formed part of the selection process.

Supervisors will be employed by term one next year.