National Report on Student Involvement in State Level Education Decision-Making

By Zachariah Webb for the Kentucky Department of Education

SoundOut Introduction

This report is a special contribution to SoundOut.org by the Kentucky Department of Education and its author, Zachariah Webb. While its title is Kentucky-specific, it serves the important role of giving a national scope to student involvement in state-level decision-making.

OVERVIEW

In June 2002, Commissioner Gene Wilhoit of the Kentucky Department of Education requested that preliminary information be gathered concerning student input to education policymakers.  Specifically, the Commissioner wanted to know how the input of low achieving students could be used to enhance their educational experience.  “What excites and motivates these students,” asked the Commissioner, “and how can we motivate our teachers and administrators to change their performance?”

The Commissioner’s request is timely.  The state of Kentucky has recently adopted a goal of “Proficiency by 2014,” a statewide initiative aiming to help every child perform at Proficient levels (on a scale of Novice, Apprentice, Proficient, Distinguished) by the year 2014.  Furthermore, the Kentucky General Assembly recently passed Senate Bill 168, requiring schools to make substantive reductions in the achievement gaps among all student subpopulations, including the notorious racially and income-based divides.  As the state begins to redefine academic “success” as the achievement of ALL students, not just the majority of them, student input and feedback becomes critical to creating positive change in the instruction and achievement of subgroups that have historically been left behind.

PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT

Therefore, this report attempts to do two things.  First, to capture and illustrate how other state education departments are utilizing student input.  Second, to recommend specific actions Kentucky can take to ensure that student input is equitable, meaningful, and manageable.

PROCESS

The education department in each state was contacted by phone or email at least once.  It was explained that the Kentucky Department of Education was interested in developing a Student Advisory Council, and that we were searching for models upon which we might base our own work.  State departments or boards of education were asked if they included any student advisors at the state level.  State education departments involving students generally put me in contact with appropriate staff who were intimately involved in the process. States were then asked more detailed questions about how students were included and how students were selected.  States were also asked informal questions about the effectiveness of their student advisors and if student diversity was a priority or a concern. 

Although all fifty states were contacted, in at least two instances states responded incorrectly that they had no student involvement.  While these errors were corrected, there may be state education departments or boards not listed in this report that do include student input.  All attempts have been made to be as thorough and accurate as possible.

FINDINGS

Of the fifty states contacted, twenty indicated that they do include student involvement in education decision-making in some way at the state level.  The most common practice is to include one or two nonvoting student advisors on the state Board of Education.  Generally, students serving in this capacity are either elected through a state student council association or appointed by the state Governor.  Many states include a combination of selection processes.  Five states give students voting rights on the state Board of Education.  Only seven states include a group of more than two student advisors.  A detailed explanation of each state’s student advisory structure and selection process is included on pages 7 - 26 of this report.  Below is a brief summation of each state.

EXPLORE THE REPORT

Overview

Summary of findings

State-by-state-analysis

Sources & acknowledgements

View the entire report online (printable)