Guidelines recently released by the Education Department state that anti-bullying, student behaviour, cultural diversity and technology policies are no longer the responsibility of school councils.

Previous guidelines stated that developing these policies was the role of schools and councils.

Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said there was no explanation for the changes, and stakeholders had been left in the dark.

“Moving parts of policy into operational where school councillors don't have the responsibility can weaken and dilute the democratic role of good governance,” she said.

Education Minister James Merlino said the new guidelines had created confusion and he’d told the department to revise them to give school councils clarity.

“Let me be clear, school councils have and will continue to have a role to play in policies concerning the acceptable use of ICT, anti-bullying, code of conduct for students, cultural diversity and student behaviour,” Mr Merlino said.

"There are no changes that impact on this role and the guidelines should make that very clear. They will be revised to make sure that is the case.”

The backflip comes ahead of a Victorian Auditor-General’s report into school councils, which will assess whether they are complying with the rules.

Parents at one Victorian school recently raised concerns about a new behaviour policy being brought in without council involvement.

One mother who questioned the move was told consulting with council on this matter was no longer required.

“The idea that school council would have powers removed without any consultation was alarming and upsetting,” she said.

“There is, and should be, a clear role for school councils and communities to be engaged in the policies that affect their children."

An Education Department spokesman said the changes have been made to bring the guidelines into line with existing legislation.

“The objectives, functions and powers of school councils are enshrined in legislation and this has not changed,” he said.

The Opposition’s education spokesman Tim Smith said the Andrews government was undermining the autonomy of principals and school councils when it came to standards and discipline in Victorian schools.

“The hapless minister, James Merlino, has been forced into a humiliating backflip,” Mr Smith said.

“This is yet another example of the Andrews government trying to enforce its own ideology on students, parents and teachers in Victorian schools.”

School councils are made up of parents, volunteers and department staff who oversee schools’ budgets, strategic plans and develop, review and update policies.

These include policies for school uniforms, homework and parent payments.

Some schools have previously had difficulty implementing the anti-bullying initiative Safe Schools because it has been blocked by school councils on ideological grounds.

In the wake of two damning corruption hearings into rorts in the Education Department, the department rolled out training to help councils "identify and address irregular financial activities".

Councils at schools investigated by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission were often unaware of their responsibility to scrutinise and sign off on payments.

From the start of this year it became mandatory for a student to be appointed to every school council and given full voting rights.