Massachusetts can take pride in being one of a handful of states with full voting rights for a student on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) and the only state where the student Board member is elected by his/her peers. Mass. General Laws Chapter 15, Section 1E provides for voting student representation on the Board through a state Student Advisory Council. The Student Advisory Council has a distinguished history in representing secondary school students in the Commonwealth and provides opportunities for students to learn and grow while demonstrating their individual leadership qualities.
DESE seeks to build councils that reflect the diversity of Massachusetts's secondary school students and has developed recommended procedures in conducting elections at schools.
For more information, including a link to register students for the council, please see:
Recommended Election Procedures & Timelines for 2025-2026 Regional Student Advisory Council Representatives
If you have any questions, please contact us at sac@doe.mass.edu .
Last Updated: April 8, 2025