California State Board of Education Student Member

The California State Board of Education Student Member has been a fixture since 1969. They have been full-voting members since 1983.

History

Starting in 1969, the SBE appointed a student to serve as a board advisor. In 1983, the Legislature and Governor granted the student full participation and voting rights.

Eligibility

In order to become student members of the SBE, students must be:

• Any student enrolled in a California public high school who will be a senior in good standing
• Be available to attend a statewide conference in November
• Serve a one-year term from August through July
• Attend all SBE meetings held during that time, which includes a minimum of two days every other month for approximately six meetings per year
• Vote on educational policies vital to California’s students and schools

According to the State School Board of Education, the position provides a wonderful opportunity to influence educational policy in areas such as curriculum, standards, assessments, accountability, and Local Control Funding Formula.

Process

• California law requires that school district governing board student members select six of the 12 semifinalists for further consideration by the SBE
• The SBE uses the annual Student Advisory Board on Education, or SABE, conference to perform this function.
• Twelve semifinalists must attend the Student Advisory Board on Education (SABE) Conference.
• Semifinalists will participate in all SABE activities.
• Semifinalists will make individual presentations to all other SABE participants about their interest in, and qualifications for, the student member position.
• Following a secret ballot by the SABE participants, the names of six candidates will be submitted for further consideration by the SBE’s Screening Committee.
• The decision of the SABE participants is final.
• Each of the final six candidates will be interviewed by the SBE’s Screening Committee.
• The Screening Committee will recommend three finalists to the SBE.
• Following the Board’s action to select the three finalists, the names of the three finalists will be sent to the Governor.
• The SBE’s recommendations to the Governor are final. Interviews and the selection of three finalists will occur before and at the SBE’s November meeting.
• Representatives of the Governor will interview the three finalists, probably in the late spring or summer.
• One of the finalists is be appointed by the Governor to be the Student Member.

You Might Like…

• Student Voice in California
• Student Voice in Education Agencies
• Students as Decision-Makers

Elsewhere Online

• California State Board of Education student members webspage