Students on School Boards in Maryland

The following are facts about students on school boards in Maryland. In Maryland, school districts are operated by county governments; instead of being called districts, they are called counties – but they are the same thing. Students have been involved in school boards in Maryland since the 1970s.

County School Boards

• In 1972, the Maryland state department of education reported that they encouraged local school boards to consider roles for students on school boards.
• Today, students in Maryland can join local school boards but cannot vote.
• The selection process varies from board to board.
• Generally, student representatives from each high school gather in a kind of mini-election convention and put forth three names for consideration by the boards or local superintendents, who then appoint the candidate.
• Students can join and vote on the state school board.
• Some local boards provide students voting representation, and some do not.
• In Maryland, generally, student representatives from each secondary school gather in a kind of mini-election convention and put forth three names for consideration by the local board and/or superintendent.
• As many as seven counties have student members on board in some fashion.

State School Board

• There are 12 voting members of the Maryland State Board of Education, including a student member with a full vote.
• The student member has partial voting rights.
• The student members is  selected by the Maryland Association of Student Councils for the Governor of Maryland.
• Student members are 11^th and 12^th graders, and serve one year terms.
• Students have been members on the Maryland State Board of Education since 1985.
• Law: Education Article 2-202 of the Annotated Code of Maryland authorizes:
  • The Governor to appoint one student member to the Maryland State Board of Education.
  • The student be a public high school junior or senior and serves a one-year term.
  • Student members of the Maryland State Board of Education have partial voting rights
  • Students are excluded from votes concerning the budget, legal appeals, and the removal or reprimand of personnel.
•  Each year, the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) mails an information packet and application materials to all public high schools.
• The application requires a resume, three essay questions, and four letters of recommendation.
• An application review committee selects five finalists.
• The committee includes the MASC President, 2^nd Vice President, one MASC regional President, one adult MASC regional advisor, and the current student State Board of Education member.
• The final five candidates speak before a student Legislative Session, where approximately 800 Maryland high school and middle school students attend and have the opportunity to vote for two candidates.
• The two students elected are then interviewed by the Governor of Maryland, who ultimately selects one of them to serve on the State Board.

Maryland School Board Association

• Students in Maryland are not formal members of the state school board association, but are offered specific training to support their involvement.
• The state school board association offers a 2-day long new member training for student board representatives along with admission to academic courses.

You Might Like…

• Students on School Boards Toolbox Table of Contents
• Anne Arundel County Public Schools Office of Student Leadership
• Anne Arundel Student Saves District LOTS of Money

Elsewhere Online

• Maryland Student Member of the State Board of Education by the Maryland Association of Student Councils
• Maryland State Board of Education official website
• Bethesda Schools New Student School Board Member official website