The Beach School is incorporated as a not-for-profit co-operative under the Ontario Co-operative Act. It is also registered as a non-inspected private school with the Ontario Ministry of Education. The Beach School is a member of the Ontario Co-operative Association and the Ontario  Federation of Independent Schools. It is also affiliated with the Hastings Park Foundation which accepts charitable donations on the school's behalf.

        As a co-op, we are owned by our co-op members (parents, students, staff, and elected public members). The co-op members collectively are known as the Assembly. The Assembly is governed by our by-laws and meets at least twice a year (sprhowng and fall) to make decisions about finances and the overall direction of the school. The meetings are run according to formal rules of order. Minutes for each meeting are kept on file. The meetings are run democratically with each Assembly member having one vote.

        As required under the Ontario Co-operative Act, the Assembly annually elects a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors acts as an advisory body to the school. By law, directors must be at least 18 years old. The Board selects a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for the co-operative.  It meets at least semi-annually to review any issues upon which the Assembly or School Meeting seeks advice.

        The School Meeting (or SM), made up of all students and staff, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school. This includes making school rules and policies, purchasing school supplies and resources, hiring staff, and looking after school administration. The School Meeting is the heart of the school in many ways. The School Meeting elects clerks to look after particular administrative areas (e.g. attendance, communications, emergency procedures, technology, safety and aesthetics, School Meeting chairperson, School Meeting secretary, School Meeting treasurer, Judicial Committee clerks, etc.). Any student or staff member may run to be a clerk. All classes and corporations (interest-based groups) are responsible to the School Meeting. The Judicial Committee (or JC) is given authority by the School Meeting to deal with all disciplinary issues at school. School Meetings occur weekly, are open to all students and staff, and are run according to formal rules of order. The meetings are run democratically with each member having one vote. Minutes are kept of each meeting. Policies and rules made by the School Meeting are kept in The Book.

        The responsibility for the business aspects of the school are shared by the Assembly and the School Meeting in the following way: The Assembly annually elects a Business Manager to oversee the school's business. The Business Manager works with the School Meeting to ensure that the school is being run successfully as a business. Any Assembly member may run to be the Business Manager. The School Meeting elects business clerks to work on specific business areas for the school (e.g. enrolment, publicity, site, fundraising, staff recruitment, finance and legal, etc.). The Business Manager co-ordinates the work of the business clerks. Collectively, the Business Manager and the business clerks are known as the Administrative Team. Business clerkships are open to all Assembly members. Business clerks may organize committees of volunteers to assist them in their work. All Assembly members are encouraged to help out as much as possible. Much of the work of running the school is done on a volunteer basis by Assembly members of all ages.