parent power  By Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary 

Students Speak Up at the State Level 

Q. I recently saw a notice about a meeting of a student advisory committee to the Virginia State Board of Education. What is this committee and how does it work?
 
 
A The State Board of Education’s (BOE) Student Advisory Committee was set up following discussion during the 2000 legislative session about requiring a student member on the BOE. Then-BOE president Dr. Kirk Schroeder helped establish the Student Advisory Committee in order to include more students and have statewide representation.
 
Through an application process, one high school student from each of the state’s eight superintendent’s regions is selected, along with four middle school students at large.
 
The students meet in Richmond three times a year and work with Department of Education staff and two members of the BOE to identify their issues, research their concerns and present their thoughts and recommendations  at a regularly scheduled meeting of the full Board.
 
Over the last few years, students have addressed concerns involving: the need for more and better drug and alcohol abuse awareness; the lack of fiscal responsibility and financial literacy in secondary school curricula; the need for a more comprehensive study of foreign languages and international education beginning earlier in the school grades; the need to raise awareness of psychological health and violence among students; the need for more emphasis on fine arts; and the promotion of a statewide peer conflict mediation program, among others.
 
During their meetings the students have opportunities to interact with the state superintendent and the president of the State Board. They learn about statewide issues and how they compare to those in their own schools or communities. These students often take the issues they discuss back to their home schools and regions to gather input and further clarification.
 
Their service to the state hones their leadership skills as they realize the need to “do your homework” if one desires to address concerns and bring about change.
 
A video interview with students regarding their Board service can be found at www.doe.virginia.gov/boe. On the right-hand menu, click Committees > Advisory Committees > Student Advisory Committee.
 
The BOE sets educational policy that impacts 1.2 million young people in our Commonwealth. It is refreshing and beneficial to have representatives of these young people bringing their issues to the table to inform the Board about the ongoing concerns of the students whose education has been entrusted to it.

Jo Lynne DeMary was superintendent of public instruction for Virginia and is currently director of the Center for School Improvement at VCU. She believes that parents empowered by knowledge are the best partners in their children’s education.

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