Although students may not realize it, they have the power to influence future educational policy, junior Evangeline Park, California Association of Student Councils education policy club president, said. To inspire advocacy, CASC education policy club is dedicated to helping students recognize and use that power, Park added.
The club is part of a larger organization, the California Association of Student Councils, which serves as advisers to the Department of Education, public relations officer, junior Vincent Wang said.
Through CASC, the Department of Education receives student input that can shape legislation and policy matters, Park said.
The club is valuable because it uplifts students by providing a platform for them to share their voices in response to education policies, club adviser and school therapist Sarah Loyd said.
“As humans, we all need a voice,” Loyd said. “It’s good to have a group where you can voice your opinions, develop critical thinking skills [and participate in] constructive conversations.”
By focusing on leadership development, the club trains students to be future advocates in education policy. Many of the club’s meetings include discussion surrounding what it means to advocatewith the hope of members learning how to impact legislation at the state level, Park said.
To achieve this goal, the club hosts activities that follow the CASC curriculum, Park said. The CASC curriculum is designed around collaboration and identity exploration as well as practical skills like public speaking to ensure students become well-rounded leaders, Park said.
“I think of leadership training as the bridge between what a student is right now and how they can eventually impact legislation,” Park said. “In order for a normal student to go to that board meeting and make a difference, they need to have leadership skills.”
Most of all, Wang said the club wants to ensure that students know they play an important role in shaping policy, whether it is at a district or state level.
“The goal is really to spread this idea that students can connect to educational policy,” Wang said. “[Educational policy] is not something we have to accept, but it’s an interactive process where students have a voice.”
