Where students sit on America’s school boards.

H 7907

The bill expands the state Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and the State Board of Education, and changes the student advisory chair role to a voting member on each body.

The bill adds two student members to the Somerset County Board of Education, changes the vacancy appointment process to the county commissioners, raises board member compensation, creates a scholarship for a student board member, and modifies executive session rules.

SB 409

The bill raises the annual compensation for the Anne Arundel County Board of Education members and increases the scholarship awarded to a student board member who completes a full term starting on or after July 1, 2029.

The bill adds a student representative seat to every local K‑12 school board in Kentucky and requires each board to adopt policies governing the role. The student representative may serve on the board but is not granted voting rights.

The bill amends statutes to require the Kentucky Board of Education to set expiration for facility waivers, creates timelines for waiver and class size exemption reviews, and changes how nonvoting board members are appointed. It specifies that the student member on the state board must be a sophomore at appointment and adjusts appointment rotation by Supreme Court districts.

The bill changes how Kentucky Board of Education members are selected, making district seats elected and setting term lengths. It also directs the board to appoint the existing student member each spring of the sophomore year and to rotate those appointments by Supreme Court district.

The bill adds a non‑voting student member to New Hampshire’s State Board of Education. The student must be enrolled in a K‑12 or post‑secondary program in the state, serve a single two‑year term (or until age 22), and have all rights of board members except voting.

The bill mandates that each K‑12 school board must have at least one student member who may attend meetings but cannot vote on board actions.

HF 4822

The bill mandates that each K‑12 school board include a student representative. It establishes a student seat on local school district governing boards, though it does not specify voting rights.

The bill authorizes each school district board to include a student member with full voting rights. It establishes the student seat, defines eligibility, and sets term and selection procedures.

The bill mandates that every local school district board of education must appoint a student to serve as a nonvoting representative on the board.

SB 940

The bill lets school districts that lack a student trustee provision to appoint a non‑voting student trustee. The student must be a rising junior or senior in good standing and have parental permission, and may attend meetings but cannot vote, make motions, count toward quorum, or receive compensation.

H 5839

The bill expands the state Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and the State Board of Education, adding a student advisory chair as a voting member on each body.

The bill requires county commissioners to appoint a nonvoting pupil trustee to the board of trustees of every county school district in Nevada, establishing a student seat on each local governing board.

The bill changes the voting authority of student representatives on school committee boards, granting them full voting rights comparable to other members.

The bill adds a new section to state law requiring every local K‑12 school board to have at least one student representative and to adopt policies governing that role. It sets minimum standards for those policies.

The bill changes the qualifications for serving on school boards and adds student members to local K‑12 school district boards. It authorizes a student seat where none previously existed, expanding board composition to include a student voice.

The bill requires every Texas school district board of trustees to appoint a student trustee who can attend meetings but may not vote or count toward quorum. It sets application, selection, eligibility, term, and reimbursement rules.

The bill raises the annual compensation for certain non‑student board members and increases the scholarship award available to the existing student member of the Baltimore County Board of Education.

The bill adds a requirement that every local K‑12 school board must have at least one student representative and mandates each board adopt a policy governing that role, including minimum standards for the position.

HB 456

The bill expands the role of student members on county boards of education by allowing them to vote on specified matters and to attend certain executive or special sessions under defined conditions.

Starting July 1 2025, every Illinois school district with a high school must include at least one student member on its board of school directors. The student is elected by high‑school students, serves a one‑year term, and may cast only an advisory vote, make and second motions, and attend executive sessions.

The bill lets student board members on school district and charter school governing boards give restorative‑justice recommendations in closed‑session expulsion hearings. It also permits limited case information to be shared with those students when the pupil and parents consent.

The bill permits each school district board of education to add a teacher and a student as non‑voting members. These representatives can attend meetings and participate in discussions but cannot cast votes on board actions.

The bill amends the Education Code to let county boards of education appoint a high‑school pupil as a board member even when no petition is filed, and clarifies selection, term, and duties. Pupil members receive preferential voting rights and full participation in meetings except closed sessions.

The bill revises compensation rules for student (pupil) members of county education boards and school district governing boards, allowing them to receive elective credit, partial monthly pay, and mileage. It also confirms that pupil members have preferential (non‑binding) voting rights.

SB 402

The bill adds a student member to the Kent County Board of Education, sets the initial term, requires orientation attendance, and bars the student from executive sessions.

The bill revises the duties of the Prince George's County Board of Education, changes how the student board member is elected, modifies that member's voting authority, and requires the board to retain counsel for defending members in lawsuits related to their official duties.

The bill requires the Baltimore County Board of Education to allow its student member to vote on capital and operating budget items and mandates budget‑training curriculum for the student member, to be completed within two months of election.

HB 2287

The bill lets school district boards in Texas appoint a student trustee who can attend and participate in meetings but cannot vote, second motions, or count toward quorum. The board may set the appointment process and term.

The bill requires every school district board of trustees in Texas to appoint a student trustee who may attend meetings but cannot vote or count toward quorum. It sets application, selection, eligibility, term, and reimbursement rules.

The bill changes the voting authority of student representatives on school committee boards, granting them full voting rights comparable to other members.

HF 383

The bill requires each school district board of directors to add a student representative who may attend meetings but cannot vote on board actions.

The bill adds a requirement that every local school board must have at least one student representative and mandates each board to adopt a policy governing that role.

Statute

Rhode Island's Council on Elementary and Secondary Education seats the chair of the Student Advisory Council as an ex officio, non-voting member for a one-year term (RIGL § 16-60-2, last amended 2023).

Statute

Tennessee requires a student member on local boards that oversee at least one high school, with an exception for boards that had an advisory student group before July 1, 2025 (HB 1199 / SB 0161, 2023).

Statute

California districts may add a pupil board member through a student petition under AB 824 (Ch. 669, 2023). Voting power is set by district policy.

The bill requires each student member on a county board of education to have voting rights and adds a student member to specified county boards that previously lacked one.

The bill mandates that every K‑12 school district board of education and every charter school board that includes grades 9‑12 must have at least one student selected by the student body serve as a non‑voting representative for a one‑year term. The student rep attends meetings (except confidential sessions), presents student concerns, and reports back to the student council.

Statute

Montana's Board of Public Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

New York requires a non-voting student member on local school boards under Education Law § 1702, as amended by Ch. 314 of 2022 (S 9018).

Statute

Iowa's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

Mississippi's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

North Carolina's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student advisor.

Statute

Pennsylvania's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

Tennessee's State Board of Education seats a voting student member.

Statute

Connecticut's State Board of Education seats non-voting student members.

Statute

Delaware's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

Alaska's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

Oregon's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member (ORS 326.021).

Statute

Nevada's State Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

Statute

Kentucky's Board of Education seats a non-voting student member.

The bill lets California school district boards change pupil members from having only preferential votes to full voting members, and sets rules for when full voting rights can be restricted, expanded, or removed. It also expands pupil members' access to closed‑session materials, allows stipends, and makes removal of a pupil member require a majority of voting members.

The bill adds two non‑voting student members to the Illinois State Board of Education, selected from former members of the Student Advisory Council, each serving a one‑year term. It also sets qualifications, appointment procedures, and expense reimbursement for these student members.

The bill lets county boards of education and charter school governing bodies add high‑school pupil members after a petition. Pupil members have a preferential (non‑binding) vote and serve one‑year terms.

The bill requires every Texas school district board of trustees to appoint a student trustee who may attend meetings but cannot vote or count toward quorum. It sets application, selection, eligibility, term, and reimbursement rules.

S 1219

The bill requires every K‑12 school district board of education and charter school board of trustees that includes grades 9‑12 to appoint at least one student representative, selected by the student body, to serve a one‑year term without voting rights.

The bill raises the annual compensation for non‑student members of the Baltimore County Board of Education to $12,500 and increases the scholarship awarded to the board’s student member to $1,500. It otherwise leaves the student member’s role unchanged.

Statute

The Northern Mariana Islands seats a non-voting student member on its territorial Board of Education. No separate district-level boards exist.

Statute

Guam's territorial Board of Education seats a non-voting student member. No separate district-level boards exist.

The bill expands duties and rights of existing pupil members on K‑12 school district governing boards, requiring their appointment to subcommittees, granting them access to board materials and functions, allowing elective course credit, and clarifying their preferential voting status.

S 4176

The bill mandates that every school district board of education with grades 9‑12 appoint a student representative, selected by the student body, to serve a one‑year term. The student rep may attend meetings but cannot vote and must rotate among high schools in multi‑high‑school districts.

HB 621

The bill provides a scholarship for the student representative on the Carroll County Board of Education, limits the number and amount of scholarships a student may receive, sets permissible uses for the funds, and allows reimbursement for certain expenses, while clarifying that the scholarship is not considered compensation.

Statute

DC seats non-voting student representatives on its State Board of Education. As a federal district, DC has no separate local school district boards.

Statute

Vermont's State Board of Education seats a voting student member (16 V.S.A. §161).

Statute

Utah permits local school boards to seat a student member via petition under Utah Code § 20A-14-206 (SB 12, 2018). Districts choose whether to participate.

The bill updates California law for school districts with high schools, requiring pupil members to receive board materials and staff briefings at the same time as other members. It clarifies that pupil members may have preferential voting rights and outlines petition and appointment procedures.

The bill requires school districts with high schools to appoint at least one pupil member to the governing board and gives that member a preferential vote, which is recorded but does not count toward the final vote tally.

The bill changes how members of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education are elected, restructures the School Board Appointment Commission, and adjusts the scholarship amount for the county’s student board member.

Statute

AB 261 (Thurmond, 2017) gave California's local school-district student board members mandatory preferential voting rights.

The bill permits the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education to attend executive sessions on certain topics and to cast votes on those specified matters, expanding the student’s participation in board decisions.

The bill changes the existing student representative on Hawaii's State Board of Education from a non‑voting role to a voting member. It sets a one‑year term, allows one reappointment, and provides expense reimbursement.

The bill changes the Hawaii State Board of Education to include a public high‑school student as a voting member and sets the selection process through the state student council and governor. It also defines term limits and compensation provisions.

The bill expands the Hawaii State Board of Education to include two public high school student representatives, who serve without voting rights. It sets a one‑year term, renewable once, and lets the state student council choose the representatives either directly or by election.

The bill restructures Hawaii's State Board of Education to eleven members and adds a second nonvoting high‑school student representative. It also changes term lengths, staggers elections, and removes term limits.

The bill requires school districts with high schools to appoint at least one pupil member within 60 days of a qualifying petition and allows boards to grant those members preferential voting rights. It also sets procedures for petitions, term length, compensation, and removal of the pupil member position.

The resolution asks the Hawaii State Board of Education to study whether the existing student representative should be granted voting rights and to report recommendations to the Legislature before the 2016 session.

The bill mandates that each K‑12 school board include a student member, establishing a new seat for a student representative with voting rights equal to other board members.

The bill permits the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education to attend executive sessions on certain topics and to cast votes on those specified matters. It expands the student member's participation rights without creating a new seat.

The bill raises the salaries of the Howard County Board of Education chair and members and creates a $5,000 scholarship plus expense reimbursement for the existing student board member.

The bill limits the voting ability of the existing student member on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education for certain matters, and lets the elected board members decide which issues are excluded from the student’s vote.

SB 428

The bill adds a nonvoting student representative to the Carroll County Board of Education, sets qualification and term requirements, and limits the student’s participation in executive sessions unless invited by a board vote.

The bill creates an elementary and secondary student advisory council and adds two student members to the Rhode Island Board of Education. The student members will serve on the board but will not have voting rights.

The bill defines the rights and limits for the student member of the Harford County Board of Education, barring the student from voting on certain issues and excluding them from expense reimbursements provided to other board members.

The bill expands the authority of the existing student member on the Montgomery County Board of Education, allowing the student to attend certain executive sessions and to cast votes on specified matters.

The bill establishes a Florida Educational Student Advisory Council that advises the State Board of Education and requires each school district board to create a student advisory program with a student advisor (and optional assistant) who serves on the district board without voting rights.

Amends the Hawaii constitution to require the governor to appoint a public high‑school student to the State Board of Education, granting the student voting rights on all board matters except personnel issues.

The bill adds a public high school student as a voting member of Hawaii's State Board of Education, appoints the student through a state student council, and sets term, eligibility, and reimbursement rules. The student may not vote on personnel matters.

The bill adds a public high school student as a voting member of Hawaii's State Board of Education, appoints them for a two‑year term (renewable once), and sets up a selection advisory council to nominate board members.

The bill expands the authority of the existing student member on the Montgomery County Board of Education, allowing the student to attend executive sessions on collective bargaining and to vote on collective bargaining, budgets, and school operational decisions such as closings, reopenings, and boundaries.

The bill revises the student member role on the Harford County Board of Education by defining voting rights, restricting votes on certain matters, changing election and nomination procedures, updating qualifications, and allowing reimbursement of expenses.

The bill permits the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education to cast votes on designated matters, expanding the student’s role from advisory to voting on those issues.

The amendment makes the student member of Hawaii’s State Board of Education a voting member and requires that the student be elected by public secondary school students.

SB 2084

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment to let the student member of Hawaii's State Board of Education vote on all matters, changing the role from non‑voting to voting.

HB 152 · SB 798 · HB 86

The bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would let the student member of Hawaii’s State Board of Education vote on all board matters, changing the current non‑voting status. The amendment would be placed on the ballot for voter approval.

The bill requires districts with high schools to appoint at least one nonvoting pupil member within 30 days of a qualifying petition and allows districts to grant those members preferential voting. It sets petition thresholds, selection procedures, term length, and reimbursement rules.

Statute

Washington's State Board of Education includes a voting student member (RCW 28A.305.011).

Statute

New Jersey requires a non-voting student representative on every local board of education (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1.3).

Statute

Hawaii's single Board of Education includes a required student member (HRS § 302A-121). Because Hawaii has no district boards, the state-level seat is the only local representation.

Statute

New Hampshire requires a non-voting student member on every local school board (NHRS § 194:23-f).

Statute

Maryland requires a student member on every county board of education (Education Code, Div. II, Title 3). Voting power is mixed across counties.

Statute

Virginia school boards may seat student members at their discretion under Va. Code § 22.1-86.1 (H 1837, 1999).

Statute

Maine's State Board of Education seats two non-voting student members (20-A MRSA §401).

Statute

Nebraska districts may seat student board members under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-559. A mandate (LB 960) has been proposed but not yet enacted.

Statute

Illinois school districts may add a pupil board member at their discretion under 105 ILCS 5/10-1. Adoption and voting power are set by district policy.

Statute

California's State Board of Education has had a full-voting student member since 1983 (Educ. Code §33000.5); the seat dates to a 1969 tradition.

Statute

New Jersey's State Board of Education seats two non-voting student representatives.

Statute

Maryland's State Board of Education student member has full voting power (Educ. Art. §2-202).

Statute

California's foundational 1975 law authorizing nonvoting student members on local school district boards.

Statute

An early-1970s Maryland law authorizing student members on county boards of education — a foundation of Maryland's county-level SBM system.

Statute

Massachusetts seats the chair of its State Student Advisory Council as a full-voting member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (M.G.L. c.15 §1E).

Statute

Massachusetts requires a student member on every local school committee (MGL ch. 71, § 38M). The state-law seat is non-voting; voting rights may vary by district policy.