Family & Community Students & Families
Student Advisory Council

Roles and Responsibilities

Regional Student Advisory Council Members

All members of the 11 Regional Student Advisory Councils serve to:

• Debate statewide education issues and advise the Board of Education on these issues through the State Student Advisory Council;

• Develop student leadership through the discussion of student rights and responsibilities as well as student leadership skills;

• Provide resources to students to address school issues, for example: develop informational publications for students, sponsor training for students about educational issues, provide training for students who serve on School Councils and School Committees, co-sponsor statewide conferences covering topics affecting students, etc.; and

• Disseminate the above information to students in participating schools.

All members must commit to:

• Attending the monthly RSAC meetings (Oct - Apr); 7 days;

• Actively participate in work group activities that may include drafting, filing, testifying and lobbying in support of student sponsored legislation; and

• Completing tasks between scheduled meetings.

Regional Chairs

• Students elected as Regional Chairs also:

• Work closely with the Advisor, Recorder and State SAC delegates to plan Regional Council meetings;

• Conduct regular business of each regional meeting;

• Coordinate and plan Regional Council initiatives around State Council work group activities, legislative/lobbying efforts, speakers, etc.;

• Develop strategies to communicate Regional and State Council activities back to high schools;

• Represent the concerns of their region at the SSAC meetings; and

• Ensure regular communication between State and Regional Councils.

Regional Recorders

• Work closely with the Advisor, Regional Chair and SSAC Delegates to plan meetings;

• Record the regular business of each meeting and provide copies to your Advisor;

• Keep attendance records;

• Ensure regular communication between the Regional Council and high schools.

Workgroup Leaders

Students elected as Regional Workgroup Leaders assume the same roles as the Regional Chairs with respect to their particular workgroup.

• Conduct the regular business of each workgroup meeting;

• Coordinate and plan workgroup initiatives;

• Ensure regular communication workgroup activities and progress back to the Regional Council.

Workgroup Recorders

Students elected as Regional Workgroup Recorders assume the same roles as the Regional Recorders with respect to their particular workgroup.

• Work closely with the Workgroup Leader to plan meetings;

• Record the regular business of each Workgroup meeting and provide copies to your Regional Recorder;

• Keep attendance records;

• Ensure regular communication between the Workgroup and the rest of the Regional Council.

SSAC Chairperson

The SSAC Chairperson is a State Delegate elected by his/her peers to represent SSAC as a full-voting member on the Massachusetts Board of Education. The SSAC Chairperson's roles and responsibilities also include:

• Attendance at all Board of Education meetings;

• Represent SSAC's views and opinions at the Board meetings;

• Communicate with Executive Committee members regarding Board Packets and initiatives before the Board; and

• Communicate with Regional Chairs regarding Board initiatives and regional issues, workgroup activities, etc.

Executive Committee Members

State delegates elected as Executive Committee Members will:

• Review Board Packets in a timely manner;

• Communicate with SSAC Chairperson regarding Board Packet and initiatives; and

• Provide updates at regional meetings on Board Packets and Board initiatives.

State Delegates

Students elected from each region as State Delegates also:

• Represent the concerns of their region at the SSAC meetings;

• Assist the RSAC chairs in planning regional meetings;

• Assist the RSAC chairs in running regional meetings;

• Actively participate in work group activities that may include drafting, filing, testifying and lobbying in support of student sponsored legislation; and

• Completing tasks between scheduled meetings.

State Alternates

Students elected as State Alternates:

• May attended monthly SSAC meetings; and

• Assume the role of the State Delegate at SSAC meetings should the State Delegate be unable to attend.