Formal complaint refers to a structured process for raising concerns through an official procedure rather than informal conversations with school staff. In education advocacy, a formal complaint usually begins with the school district’s internal process—often called a district appeal—where a parent asks the superintendent or board of education to review a decision or situation. If the issue is not resolved internally, families may pursue other formal pathways. In British Columbia, this can include a Section 11 appeal under the School Act (British Columbia), complaints to the Office of the Ombudsperson (British Columbia) about administrative fairness, concerns about records through the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, or discrimination complaints to the BC Human Rights Tribunal. A formal complaint creates an official record of the concern and requires the institution or oversight body to review and respond through a defined process.