Washington, DC - Today, the D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) is proud to announce the opening of the application period for new Student Representatives and members of the Student Advisory Committee (SAC). Students who are passionate about their local school community and who desire to represent their peers in the education policy-making process should apply online at http://bit.ly/SBOEStudentRepApp. The application period will close on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 11:59 pm.
“I am proud and honored to be serving my second consecutive term as one of the Student Representatives for the D.C. State Board of Education,” said Tatiana Robinson, current SBOE Student Representative from Ballou High School. This role has provided me with the opportunity to work with District policy makers as it relates to education and public safety, build upon my leadership and public speaking skills, and provided more opportunities for advocacy including - serving as the Co-Chair of the Student Advisory Committee and creating a peer-to-peer mentoring program for students across the city.
"Becoming a Student Representative empowers me to become the connection between students in the District of Columbia and the policymakers for education,” said Marjoury Alicea, current SBOE Student Representative from Capital City Public Charter School. “Not only has it given me the opportunity to be an advocate for students, but I am able to connect with my community as well."
This application is for prospective Student Representatives and SAC members. SBOE will choose two Student Representatives who will join the nine elected representatives of the State Board and serve from September 2019 until June 2020. If a student is not selected for the Student Representative position, they will be automatically considered for a position on the SAC.
“Whether they are testifying during a public panel or working together during monthly meetings, Student Representatives and SAC members are fundamental to our work on the SBOE,” said Ruth Wattenberg, President of the State Board of Education. “Our Student Advisory Committee members told us that they and their classmates spent months—in multiple years—in classrooms with substitute teachers who were simply not positioned to provide them the education they needed. They made us aware of this urgent problem. And our policy recommendations will address it.”
Student Representatives participate in all SBOE activities. Their votes are recorded but cannot affect the outcome of any policy measure. Student Representatives are expected to attend all official SBOE meetings, which occur twice per month, on the first and third Wednesday. Student Representatives also co-chair the SAC.
The SAC serves as the voice of students in the State Board’s work. They are consulted on all issues of policy before the State Board. The committee meets at least once per month. Each year, the SAC sends the SBOE a report on a matter of importance to District students, providing recommended next steps.
All applicants must be a District of Columbia resident and a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in either a traditional public or public charter high school. For more information, please visit sboe.dc.gov/studentvoices.