What difference can it make if students are on school boards? There are a lot of reasons to have students on school boards. This article summarizes some of the research supporting students on school boards!
Reasons for Students on School Boards
- Academic Achievement. Meaningfully involving students on school boards can ensure student engagement, which raises academic achievement.
- Respect. Students have valid opinions, knowledge, ideas, and experiences that school boards can benefit from.
- Authenticity. Having students on school boards can help ensure that adults know what is actually happening in schools right now.
- Justice. “Anything about us without us is not for us.” Schools can put democracy into action with students on school boards.
- Real Learning. Engaging students on school boards may be one of the most powerful ways to teach students about democracy in society.
- Better Teaching. Student involvement throughout the leadership process of schools can show teachers school boards are committed to teaching and the sustainability of school.
- Effective School Improvement. Engaging students on school boards can significantly improve the effectiveness of school improvement measures in school.
- Youth Development. Students can become more effective learners when they are engaged on school boards, and in processes of decision-making affecting them throughout their lives.
- School Culture.The attitudes, policies, and structures of schools may change when students are on school boards.
- Embracing Diversity. Embracing a diversity of perspectives can make student voice the most significant tool in the school leadership toolbox.
- The “Bottom Line”.Students on school boards can help schools save money while meeting the rigorous demands facing public education systems.
- Integrity. Educators and school leaders have an ethical responsibility to engage students as partners throughout education, particularly in the decision-making that affects them every single day.
MAYBE the most important factor to engaging students on school boards is that it just feels right. Voters, teachers, administrators, parents, board members, businesspeople, higher education… Each of these has a stake in school board decision-making. Students have a major stake, too, and it is time to acknowledge it.
Students on School Boards Toolkit
- Students on School Boards Toolkit Homepage
- Students on School Boards Fact Sheet
- Terms Related to Students on School Boards
- Activities for Students on School Boards
- Rationale for Students on School Boards
- How to Get Students on School Boards
- Options for Student Voice on School Boards
- Should School Boards Elect or Select Student Members?
- Barriers to Students on School Boards
- Outcomes from Students on School Boards
- Quotes about Students on School Boards
- Critical Questions about Students on School Boards
- Data Related to Students on School Boards
- State Directory of Laws Affecting Students on School Boards
- State Directory of Students on School District Boards
- State Directory Students on District School Boards
- Directory of Students on State Boards of Education
- Sources for the Students on School Boards Toolkit
- Publications about Students on School Boards
- Additional Info Related to Students on School Boards
Students on School Boards in Canada
- Directory of Canadian Province Laws Affecting Students on School Boards
- Guide to Students on Canadian School Boards [PDF]
You Might Like…
- United States Student Voice Directory
- Student Involvement in Education Agencies
- Intro to Student Tokenism
Elsewhere Online
- “Students on School Boards Resource Kit” by the Michigan Association of School Boards in 2018.
- Guide to Student Voice in Education Governance by the Vermont School Boads Association in 2015.
- Students Serving on Local School Boards survey by the National Association of School Boards in February 2009.
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