Long Island school officials welcome new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul giving students a seat on school boards statewide

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill into law that requires all New York school districts with a high school to include a student on the board of education, a move praised by some school officials on Long Island, where students already have taken a seat.

The legislation, signed Thursday, affects all school districts and BOCES in the state except those in New York City. The districts will now be required to establish a process to include at least one student on the board who has attended a high school in that district for at least a year.

The student will not have a vote on the board but rather serve as an advisory member. State lawmakers had been pushing the bill, saying the position would give students new opportunities to engage with their boards and build skills and habits of civic engagement. 

They “will learn the power of their own voices, and the importance of listening to and engaging respectfully with those who may have a different point of view, while bringing valuable and unique perspective to board decision making,” State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer (D-Yonkers), who sponsored the bill, said in a statement.

In July, Newsday highlighted Long Island students who have served as school board members. The students spoke about how their respective experiences influenced decisions on issues like busing schedules, AP classes and school events.

The Levittown school district already has had students serving on its board. Schools Superintendent Todd Winch said in a statement that it’s encouraging to see the governor formally acknowledge the importance of giving them the opportunity to have their voices heard on issues important to them.

“Student liaisons play a crucial role in fostering a stronger connection between students and the board, enhancing engagement, and encouraging active participation in the educational environment,” Winch said.

He noted that student involvement “not only bridges gaps in communication but also empowers students to take a more active role.”

Three Village schools Superintendent Kevin Scanlon said that district has had a student representative on its board for several years.

"The contributions of the students have been a tremendous asset in allowing the board and the community to hear the students’ perspectives on salient issues,” he said. 

Robert Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, said it’s always good to have a student voice at the table, especially when discussing policies that will affect the students the district is serving.

“It’ll be interesting to get feedback in a couple years about how it goes and see what benefits came about as the results of the policy change at a state level,” he said.