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State Board of Education Student Representatives

In the Classroom

On May 22, 2008 the Pennsylvania State Board of Education amended its bylaws to add one non-voting senior student member and one non-voting junior student member. Thus, since September 2008, two high school students have served on the State Board of Education.

 

These State Board of Education positions have provided public school students with an unprecedented opportunity in Pennsylvania to interact with the twenty-one adult Board members and have helped shape long-term education policy for the 1.8 million K-12 students in our state and the 680,000 students impacted by our state system of higher education. 

 

Since the program's inception, the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC) has had the responsibility of selecting these students. These students become an active voice on the State Board of Education by working closely with the adult board members to draft and implement policies for basic and higher education in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As voting members of the PASC Executive Board, they also work with other students on the PASC board to gather student perspective and input.

overview

CURRENT REPRESENTATIVES

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE:

Aarushi Dedhiya

Cumberland Valley High School

sbe2025@pasc.net

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JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE:

Naina Bhatia

West Chester East High School

sbe2026@pasc.net

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SEPA

In 2021, former SBE student representatives Eva Rankin and Reva Gandhi founded the Students for Education in Pennsylvania (SEPA) organization. SEPA provides nominated students across the state the opportunity to share their experiences and voice their opinions about education directly to the SBE Student Representatives. 

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SEPA seeks to establish an ongoing relationship with dedicated PA students to more effectively represent student voice in PA’s educational decision-making. SEPA's membership of over 120 students from over 55 school districts allow the SBE Reps to hear from voices all across the Commonwealth that give feedback on education policy and student life.

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Students who are interested in serving on SEPA may self nominate by completing this form: Students for Education in Pennsylvania: District Representative Nomination Form

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Student Rep Application

Each year PASC coordinates the selection process for the next student representative on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The selected student serves on both the State Board of Education as well as the PASC Executive Board. Below is more information about the process, as well as the application

Eligibility

 Students interested in applying must be a sophomore during the application cycle. Students must also be attending a public high school in Pennsylvania. Schools may nominate more than one student, however, schools that currently have student representatives on the board are ineligible to nominate a student.

THE Process

The application for 2025 is now open, and will be accepted until February 16, 2024. If selected as a finalist, applicants will be interviewed by the selection committee in April. 

THE POSITION

The State Board of Education student representatives serve a two-year term and attend bi-monthly meetings in Harrisburg to represent the students of Pennsylvania. They will also organize the Student Summit and attend PASC programming, including the State Conference and Executive Board Meetings.

THE 2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 16, 2025.

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Questions regarding these programs should be directed to gr@pasc.net, sbe2025@pasc.net or sbe2026@pasc.net

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