I’m a Student

two students and a WSSDA staff member on stage

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in school boards. Student success and well-being are at the core of our board members’ motivation to serve, and a primary focus for WSSDA. While the adult board members have various and sometimes conflicting opinions, virtually all of them have one thing in common: a strong desire to help their students thrive.

Student Voice in Governance

By a vote of its members, WSSDA adopted a position that states:

“WSSDA believes that authentic student engagement with school boards and policy development is a powerful tool in leading educational change. Students deserve a meaningful role in providing input and guidance in the direction of their district and with decisions made on their behalf. WSSDA recommends and supports the establishment of formalized structures and policies with students to integrate ongoing, effective K-12 student voice.” — Adopted in 2021

Video Poster
Elevating Student Voice

Students and WSSDA

Just like adults, students must be members of their local school board to engage with WSSDA. If you’re already a student board representative, you can:

  • Join the Student Representatives Network
  • Perform legislative advocacy
  • Attend WSSDA events like Annual Conference, Legislative Conference, and Regional Meetings

Support for Student Board Representatives

Washington state is a national leader when it comes to having student representation on a school board. Almost half of our state’s 295 school districts have student board representatives. If your district isn’t one of them, consider having a look at WSSDA’s Student Representatives Resource Guide.

The guide was made by student board representatives in collaboration with WSSDA staff. It’ll introduce you to the role and serve as a valuable resource to give your superintendent or school board if you decide to advocate for student representation.

Non-WSSDA Opportunities for Students

  • The Association of Washington Student Leaders empowers students to lead and make positive change within their schools, communities, and themselves.
  • The Legislative Youth Advisory Council serves as the official nonpartisan youth advisory body to the state legislature. The 14-18 year-old student members from a wide variety of geographic, political, and socioeconomic backgrounds are given the opportunity to make tangible change at the state level.

Incorporating student voice into decision-making builds civic engagement, ensures the health and vitality of the local school system and, by extension, the nation’s democracy.

Logan Endres Former WSSDA Strategic Advocacy Specialist

Further Reading

See Logan’s article: Involving Young People on School Boards Is Good for Students — and for Democracy