The Board of Education Invites Applications for Two Student Board Representatives and One Alternate for the 2023-2024 School Year

Philadelphia— The Board of Education invites rising sophomores and juniors to bring student voice to the Board by applying to become a Student Board Representative or Alternate for the 2023-2024 school year. Interested Philadelphia public and charter school students may apply online here until April 28, 2023.

Beginning this year, the Board will be adding the new position of Alternate Student Board Representative to serve alongside the two appointed Student Board Representatives. Eligible students will also shift to rising sophomores and juniors rather than rising juniors and seniors.

“Serving as a Student Board Rep means constantly learning and evolving,” said Sophia Roach, the Board’s current Student Board Representative. “Since September, I’ve learned to communicate my voice and the voice of my peers in so many different ways. Whether I have been writing or presenting a monthly report at Board meetings, I see a huge improvement in the way I am able to carry myself and serve Philadelphia students.”

While Student Board Representatives do not vote, they serve in an advisory role to represent their peers on the Board of Education. For instance, they voice student concerns with the Board at monthly meetings and report Board deliberations and actions to the student body. They also meet with student groups, initiate important work, such as registering student voters, and participated in last year’s search for a new superintendent.

“Serving as a Student Board Representative is a great opportunity to act as a voice for students all across the city and to share their concerns with the Board of Education,” said Board President Reginald L. Streater, Esq. “I encourage all qualified students to apply for this leadership role to make a positive impact on every learner’s school experience while being an effective conduit between the Board and our learners.”

To qualify as a Student Board Representative or Alternate, students must:

• be a current resident of Philadelphia and attend a Philadelphia public or charter school;
• be in the 10th or 11th grade during their term as a Student Board Representative;
• have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher and be in good standing;
• be actively involved in their school community and willing to work to support Philadelphia’s public schools, on behalf of their peers, on a regular basis;
• be willing to represent their peers at Board of Education meetings and to communicate student opinions to the Board and report Board deliberations and actions to the student body.

Student Board Representatives are expected to participate in the following activities throughout their term:

• advise the Board of Education on matters in the best interest of all students in Philadelphia including the development and revision of Board policies;
• serve on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and the Board of Education;
• serve as leaders that represent the student voice for all Philadelphia public schools (district and charter);
• make every effort to attend and participate in all public meetings of the Board of Education held outside of their school day;
• Receive orientation, training and support from the Office of the Board of Education in relation to fulfilling their role on the Board;
• Participate in weekly student board representative check-ins.

For more information about the application process, please visit the Board’s web page here or contact studentleaders@philasd.org if you have any questions.