New York State has taken a huge step forward in recognizing and amplifying youth voices. On September 5, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S9018A, which will require every school district in New York State to have a student ex-officio board member serving on their BOE by July 1st of 2025. This legislation was written by New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, a representative from the Westchester area.
This legislation is an incredibly important signal to students across the state that youth voices are valued and are a necessary component of comprehensive conversations that take place on a district-wide level. In other words, the move empowers students to have a real stake in the decisions that affect our education and school communities.
Students serve on boards across the country, including states like California and Massachusetts. These states even have fully developed associations of student board members, setting examples for other states, like New York, that are quickly following suit. In these states with the established position, students, boards, and districts are more connected in the discussions that shape education. The position serves as a bridge between the true beneficiaries of the education system and those who ensure the system runs smoothly.
The role also provides consistent opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and understand the inner workings of large organizations, tools that are critical to thriving in the post-graduate world.
We at NSBMA are incredibly proud of the work that lawmakers like Senator Mayer have done to amplify the voices of young people across the country in educational spaces. This legislation serves as an example of how we can amplify the very voices that have long been ignored in education. The National Student Board Member Association looks forward to supporting legislation like Senator Mayer's across the nation, pointing to it as an example for other states to enact this voice-amplifying policy.
NSBMA will also be providing support to New York State school districts and school boards in training and onboarding their new student ex-officio board members to ensure that their work will efficiently contribute to the conversations and decisions on the district wide level, maximizing the impact of the new role.
This monumental legislation is not just a win for New York State, but also a huge step forward for student representation and engagement across the country. As we move closer to the implementation date, we urge school boards, school administrators, student leaders, and school districts to embrace this change with open arms. By welcoming an innovative form of collaboration between students and the decision makers of school districts, we can ensure that our educational systems are strengthened.
With more student voices at the table than ever before, we will eagerly witness the impact of this legislation not only on school districts across the state of New York, but across the United States as well. NSMBA is proud to contribute to incredible strides being made that will truly build an educational system that truly reflects the needs and potential of all students, while also actively cultivating the next generation of passionate leaders.
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