A BRIEF BACKGROUND

Research shows that as early as 1932 students were calling to be involved in local school boards. An early movement took form in the 1960s, and in the 1970s dozens of districts and states across the nation began involving student representatives. Maryland and California had state boards of education that quickly gave students full voting rights; today both states are still leaders in student involvement. Hundreds of districts nationwide have policies supporting student involvement in decision-making; dozens actually have student representation; and a growing number have full voting student members.

Following are tools, research, and websites for anyone interested in student involvement in district or state school boards.

EXAMPLES

Student Infusion In Anne Arundel County, Maryland students are involved in many education decision making opportunities, including serving as full members of the school board.

25 Years of Students on Board A brief history of the position for a student on the board of education in Rockville, Maryland written in 2003.

The Student's Voice An article from American School Board Association that addresses students on school boards in a favorable light, sharing examples and challenges.

Vermont Boards With Students As recently as 2002, the Vermont School Board Association (VSBA) that state has several student representatives and student advisors on school boards.

TOOLS About student board members   Students on School Boards & The Law A state-by-state comparison of laws affecting student representation and full-voting rights on district and state-level boards of education.   Summary of Students on State Level Education Decision-Making Written for the Kentucky Department of Education in 2002, this page includes details about student involvement in state school boards in 20 states.   Summary of Students on District School Boards Updated from research by the National School Board Association in 2003, this page includes details of patterns of involvement in 35 states.   National Report about Students on School Boards This 2003 report is a nationwide survey of every state department of education to find out how students were involved (or not) and what impact they had.    Students as Education Decision-Makers Examples and research from across the nation and around the world that supports and promotes students on school boards and more.   Who Makes Decisions in Schools Identifies where school boards fit into the flow of decision-making in education, from individual students to the President of the United States.

National Resources

Student Board Members Offer an Important Perspective (National School Boards Association) Provides a good overview of what student board members face and what they contribute;  also discusses the issue of voting privileges for student board members.

National School Boards Group Supports Student Involvement (National Association of State Boards of Education) The NASBE Organizational Principles for State Boards of Education supports student involvement.

Does No Vote = No Voice? (National School Board Association) A 1996 survey found that fifty school districts across the United States included student representation in their board meetings.  For more information, read Council of Urban Boards of Education Triennial Survey by the National School Board Association (1996). Alexandria, VA.

The Power of an Untapped Resource; Exploring Youth Representation on Your Board or Committee (Association of Alaska School Boards) Lists basic criteria for creating an effective board that includes youth representation.  It has a checklists for both adults and youth, a page of advice for student representatives, and a list of additional resources.  It was authored by Alaskan young people.

Resources on Student School Board Members and Student Representatives to the School Board (National School Board Association) Includes sample policies and all of the above information. (Opens as a word document)

State Policy regarding Students as School Board Members (National School Board Association) 2003. (Opens as an excel spreadsheet)

Involving Students in Governance (Education Commission of the States) This 2004 policy brief presents the benefits of involving students in education governance and policymaking. It includes examples, challenges, questions for state and local policymakers to consider, as well as recommendations and resources.

Wisconsin Education Leader Supports Students on Boards In 2003 Wisconsin State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster strongly supported student involvement in school boards.

Youth Involvement in Policy-Making:  Lessons from Ontario School Boards (Institute on Governance) This 2001 policy brief presents the findings of an evaluation of different models of youth involvement in school board decision making and proposes recommended changes for problems with the legislation and its implementation in school governance.

California Law Mandates Student Representatives on School Boards In the California Education Code, which is the law that controls school boards in the state, the law says that a school board that has high schools in it’s district MUST let one or more student ("pupil") members be on the school board. The law is in the California Education Code, Section 35012 (d).  

Indiana Students on Board In 2001 Indiana approved 2 student positions as non-voting members of the state school board.

Historical Research Supports Student Involvement (ERIC) A 1975 study found that 43% of California school districts had some sort of student representation on the board of education. For more information, read Student Representatives Serving with Boards of Education by Daniel L. Towler (1975).  Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Association of School Administrators. ERIC Document ED 109 824.

Representing the Voice of Schools This 2001 University of Kentucky editorial from is entitled “Representing the voice of schools:  The face of school boards may be changing with proposal to give students representation.”  It advocates student representatives on school boards.

Student Positions Make Better Citizens (Compact for Learning and Citizenship, National Study Group on Citizenship in K-12 Schools) In a report on civic learning, this 21-member panel recommended that every district school board create at least two full-voting, full-participating positions for students.

PUBLICATIONS

Student Board Member Handbook California Association of Student Councils offers this 60-page booklet is designed to prepare student members of local boards of education to handle their responsibilities effectively. Chapter titles include The Role of the Student Member: What Are You Getting Into?, What Do Get from Serving?, Getting the Board Position, Boardsmanship, Crisis Situations, and Expanding the Student Role. The Appendix includes statutory provisions concerning the position of student board members in California, sample school district policies concerning the position, a glossary of terms and resources.

Student Board Member Symposium Handbook California Association of Student Councils offers this Student Board Member Symposium Handbook is an extremely useful tool for any Student Board Member! Job Specific skills such as budgeting, student activism in curriculum and surveying are discussed, as well as Parliamentary Procedure, Student Rights, and Lobbying/ Legislation. Personal Development tools and an extensive list of resources are also included.

15 Points to Successfully Involving Youth in Decision-Making Youth On Board offers this practical guide to the culture and structure of involving students on school boards, including tips, examples, and resources.

TOOLS

Youth On Board This nationally renown expert organization focuses on successful youth involvement in organizational decision-making. Aside from their seminal 15 Points to Youth Involvement manual, YOB offers training and consultation across the nation.

Student Voice Project Our Education, a national nonprofit organization, is piloting the Student Voice Project in a handful of high schools across the country, with a focus on Connecticut. The SVP is designed to create avenues for student representation to local school boards, train youth to be effective resources to their boards, and involve entire student bodies in conversations about student experiences and priorities.  

SoundOut Training Focusing on student/adult partnerships and connecting board service to classroom learning, SoundOut provides hands-on, constructivist learning experiences for students and adults committed to engaging students as partners in decision-making.