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. This was updated in May 2020.

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.

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