Student Representatives on School Boards
Issue: Expanding Democracy
Target Level of Office: School Board
Policy Origin: Poway Unified School District, California
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=266
Summary Narrative of the Policy: This policy establishes a student representative on the school
district board to provide a student voice and preferential vote on items of general student
interest. This student representative is chosen through an application and interview process with
the board and given a term lasting one academic year.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• Student representation on the Poway Unified School District ensures that the youth of
Poway have a voice in educational policies and issues in the school district. The student
members not only listen and observe, but also provide meaningful input on issues brought
to the board and give a recorded preferential vote. While not a fully voting member of
the board, the Poway Student Representative is given limited preferential voting which
allows the student representative to provide insight prior to the vote by committee of
the whole.
• According to SoundOut, students were calling to be involved in local s