• Students organizing public campaigns for school improvement
• Students joining existing school committees
• Students sharing documentation of the need for improving schools
• Students educating policy-makers about challenges in school
• Students informally presenting student perspectives to administrators

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EXAMPLES of Students as Education Advocates

Student Action Fund The Youth Leadership Institute in San Francisco, California engaged a group of students and educators in giving cash grants to teams of students and teachers. These teams took on challenges including increasing school attendance rates, building better relationships between teachers and students, and improving the ways students are taught, as well as the kinds of things they are learning. 

No Age Limits Barbara Lewis, a fifth-grade teacher in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells the story of her students at Jackson Elementary. These advocates have helped their elementary school reconstruct its library by researching, brainstorming, fundraising, giving speeches, lobbying, writing proposals and receiving local, state and federal support. Their efforts led to brand-new facilities and classes, flexible scheduling for increased library use, and a comprehensive technology system including a computer center and computers in every classroom.

Give Us a Bus to Get On Student activists with an organization called Sisters in Action for Power in Portland, Oregon developed a three-year campaign to lobby for free student bus rides to and from schools for students around the city.  Their work led to the public transit company's recent decision to allow free rides to high school students who qualify for free or reduced school lunches. Their next action includes battling for free service for all Portland high school students.

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TOOLS for Students as Education Advocates

Featured Tool:

The Way We See It is a PBS program that features student-created videos about their perspectives of learning, schools, and education.

Student Activism Map

Student Activism Success Stories

Student Advocacy Tools

Overcoming Barriers to Student Voice

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