Invited to examine their district’s budget in a course, these students got credit for Meaningful Student Involvement.

In Poughkeepsie, New York, high school students conducted research on the Poughkeepsie School Board budget crisis as part of a high school government class. After designing a survey for students on what should be included in next year’s school district budget, student researchers hand-tabulated and analyzed data from 596 completed surveys – over half the student body.

District board members then had student-created data from that survey to highlight exactly what students thought should be included in next year’s school district budget.

When the Board of Education passed its budget for the coming school year, they introduced an unprecedented line item: $25,000 for “student-led initiatives.” (What Kids Can Do, 2003)

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