Annual Student Government Day, April 9, 2010

This statutory program encourages students from Massachusetts public and private high schools to learn about the structure of state government, to become engaged citizens, and to develop an understanding of the rights and responsibilities that we share in a democracy. Students will assemble at the State House. Most will replicate activities of the General Court, while others will meet as constitutional officers and as members of the Supreme Judicial Court.

Election day, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, would be an ideal day to conduct student elections in schools to elect representatives for Student Government Day. I encourage each high school to elect one student representative and one student alternate to represent participating schools. Please register your school's elected students and the adults who will accompany them by Friday, December 18, 2009 using the online Student Government Day registration form which is available at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB229P2BTBVAP.

While the method of electing student representatives may vary from school to school, I suggest following some standard procedures:

1. Elections should be school-wide, with candidates limited to juniors and seniors.
2. To allow more students the opportunity to participate, no student who has been the school's elected student representative or alternate should run for re-election.
3. Elections should be conducted in the spirit of M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 12M, which states, "Such elections shall be conducted under the supervision of the principals…and insofar as possible, shall be conducted as are elections of members of the General Court." (See the attachment for a complete text of the law).

Participation in Student Government Day involves all students in the democratic process of elections. The students elected will have the opportunity to give testimony before a legislative committee comprised of their peers, debate legislation on the floor of the House or Senate, or observe state government from the perspective of a constitutional officer or Supreme Court justice. Legislation considered on Student Government Day may be sent to the student Governor for consideration, and the student Governor will have the opportunity to "sign," "return with amendment," or "veto" the bill. The National Conference of State Legislatures offers materials to support civics education in schools at www.ncsl.org/public/trust/teachers.htm.

Administrators, faculty, and parents are also welcome to attend Student Government Day. This year optional activities for participating educators and parents will be scheduled. If any student or adult who plans to come will need reasonable accommodations in order to participate in this event, please indicate that on the registration form.

If you have any questions about Student Government Day, please contact John Chiang Keh, Student Government Day Coordinator, at studentgovday@doe.mass.edu.

Attached:

Student Government Day Program    Frequently Asked Questions M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 12M Student Government Day

Copy:

His Excellency Deval Patrick, Governor S. Paul Reville, Secretary of Education The Honorable Therese Murray, Senate President The Honorable Robert A. DeLeo, Speaker of the House The Honorable Robert A. O'Leary, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Education The Honorable Martha M. Walz, House Chair, Joint Committee on Education Paul I. Dooley, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, Chief Court Officer of the Senate Eugene DiPersio, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, Chief Court Officer of the House Alice Fitzmaurice, Sergeant-at-Arms Office Anne Ziaja, Director, Legislative Education Office Susan Wojtas, Deputy Director, Legislative Education Office Tammy Kraus, Director of State House Operations Charlotte Whiting, Assistant Public Information Officer, Supreme Judicial Court Anne Wass, President, Massachusetts Teachers Association Tom Gosnell, President, Massachusetts Federation of Teachers Donna Taylor, Advisor, State Student Advisory Council, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education