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Student Advisory Council

Student Advisory Council Elections

The 36th year of student representation on the Massachusetts Board of Education will soon end, and according to state law, it is again our responsibility to oversee elections for the 2008-2009 Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Education. As you know, Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 15, Section 1E*, provides for voting student representation on the State Board of Education through a Student Advisory Council. Massachusetts is one of a handful of states with full voting rights for a student on the State Board of Education and the only state where his/her peers democratically elect the student Board member.

The Student Advisory Council network is comprised of eleven regional councils, which are then incorporated into five operating councils and one statewide council. Part of the law provides for the establishment of election procedures for the Student Advisory Council. According to these procedures, the principal of each secondary school in Massachusetts is responsible for overseeing the election of two student representatives from his/her school to serve on the appropriate Regional Student Advisory Council each year.

As we continue to work at improving the quality of education for all students, it is important that the voice of students be heard at the local, state and national levels. The Student Advisory Council (SAC) has a long and distinguished history in representing all high school students in the Commonwealth. SAC provides opportunities for students to learn and grow while demonstrating their individual leadership qualities. To be a truly representative body, the SAC should reflect the diversity of Massachusetts's high school students. I would like to take this opportunity to urge you to encourage all students to consider running for election to represent your school. Special encouragement might be given to students who belong to linguistic, cultural and racial groups that have historically been under-represented on the Student Advisory Council.

This year, we will organize the regional councils around five regional meeting locations - district configurations will be maintained for the Central Massachusetts, Greater Boston, Northeast, Southeast, and Western Massachusetts regional councils. The listing of schools, which comprise the regional councils, is attached to this packet. Regional councils will continue to meet at least six times a year (October - April), while the state council will meet once a month (September - May). At the Regional Orientation meetings in May, students on the regional councils will elect their officers -- regional chairpersons, regional recorders and state council delegates. The students elected as officers from their regional council (regional chairpersons, regional recorders, state delegates and state alternates) will be required to attend a Summer Leadership Conference in August (no cost to students) where they will receive additional training to serve in these higher positions on the Council.

Enclosed is a Student Advisory Council election packet. The purpose of this packet is to assist you in conducting elections in your school. The packet is also posted on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. Included in this packet are:

	A copy of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 15, Section 1E*, establishing the Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Education *Recently submitted through Article 87, "An Act Reorganizing Certain Education Agencies", was passed by the legislature and will take effect in March, 2008 upon the Governor's signature. The new language, establishing the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, does not change student representation on the Board or the structure of the student advisory council.
	Student Advisory Council Functions and Responsibilities
	Election Procedures for the Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Education
	Student Data Sheet
	Principal's Certification of Election Procedures
	Election Affidavit

The established deadline for the Student Advisory Council elections in your school is March 31, 2008. It is important that the two representatives from your school be elected by that date so that they may have the benefit of attending the Regional Student Advisory Council orientation meeting in May, where they will elect (or be elected as) representatives to the State Student Advisory Council.

After the election is held in your school, please fill out the form entitled Principal's Certification of Election Procedures. Please be sure to complete the Student Data Sheet and have the representatives complete the Election Affidavit. Return the completed forms to Donna Taylor at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (address below).

All materials must be received no later than April 7, 2008. Once received, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education advisor to your regional council will send out an orientation letter to each elected student (at their home) as well as to the principal and student government advisor at participating schools. This letter will notify each of you of the upcoming orientation meetings for new members. Regional orientation meetings typically occur in May.

Thank you for your cooperation. If any questions should arise in regard to the election procedures or the Student Advisory Council in general, please contact the advisor to your regional council (listed below) or Donna Taylor (781) 338-6320 dtaylor@doe.mass.edu

We look forward to meeting your school's two student representatives to the 2008-2009 Student Advisory Council.

FAX: 781.338.3089

Tentative Regional Orientation Dates for students elected to the 2008-2009 Council are:

CMRSAC May 7, 2008
GBRSAC May 8, 2008
NERSAC May 1, 2008
SERSAC May 7, 2008
WMRSAC May 2, 2008

All advisors may be reached at:

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148

NOTE: Regional Student Advisory Council meetings are generally held in the following locations:

If your school is listed as a member of one Regional Student Advisory Council, but it is easier for your students to travel to a different regional council meeting location, you may designate the new region on the Student Data Sheet. Please duplicate forms as necessary to register your students.