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Student Advisory Council

Student Advisory Council Elections

The 37th year of student representation on the Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education will soon end, and according to state law, it is again our responsibility to oversee elections for the 2009-2010 Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary Education. As you know, Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 15, Section 1E*, provides for voting student representation on the State Board of Elementary & Secondary 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 Elementary & Secondary 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 late April, early You're your students elected to serve on the regional council will learn more about the council, their role as RSAC delegate as well as 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 & 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 Elementary & Secondary Education
	Student Advisory Council Functions and Responsibilities
	Election Procedures for the Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary & Secondary 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 27, 2009. 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 April/May, where they will learn more about the council, their role as delegates from your school and 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 all completed forms to Donna Taylor at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (address below).

All materials must be received no later than April 3, 2009. Once received, the Department of Elementary & 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.

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

We look forward to meeting your school's two student representatives to the 2009-2010 Student Advisory Council.

Send all election returns to:

Regional Student Advisory Council (RSAC) Advisors

Tentative Regional Orientation Dates for students elected to the 2009-2010 Council are:

All advisors may be reached at:
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
75 Pleasant 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.