How do you engage student agency in policy work or decision making?
This is what she had to say!
This summer, our school board adopted an anti-racist vision statement. It was a proud moment, even more noteworthy, that this statement was drafted by our own students. This was a culmination of our district goal for authentic and meaningful engagement with our community, but especially our students.
Over the years, the school board had been successful in bringing student directors into discussions. I observed two committed youth who were not only interested in their roles, but also in making change. I wanted to learn more about them, their school experiences, and their goals for the district. In addition to the board, they participated with me on a state-level advisory group as student representatives and we advocated at the state capital for funding. I learned what they cared about and what challenges they observed at school. I inquired if they would join my team to plan our district’s first Superintendent Advisory Committee. They agreed and eventually were co-leading this committee. Our student leaders set high expectations for one of the most diverse districts in the nation to be anti-racist in alignment with our board and staff.
These were essential for our success to build capacity for student agency:
● Co-design goals, student involvement and process norms with the students. Be adaptive while setting realistic expectations.
● Be transparent and provide clear communication for meetings, note keeping and accountability. Use tools the students are navigating.
● Center equity, diversity & inclusion to ensure that all groups are represented. Ensure voices are heard and valued.
● Prioritize relationships and trust to provide safe spaces for dialogue and feedback. Work on community building while also supporting students with skills they need for success.
● Celebrate successes so that students know that their input had an impact. Acknowledge their contributions so they can see their role in the change.
Our students are living the reality of the decisions we make in policy. It is critical that we lean into their lived school experience to ensure our impact meets our intent. Empowering our students and integrating them into the decision making structures enriches policy and will lead to policies that are reflective of our students.
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