Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4906
Telephone: (781) 338-3000
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Secondary School Principals
John L.G. Bynoe, III, Associate Commissioner
Center for Student Support Services
February, 2015
Student Advisory Council Elections – Action Needed by April 3, 2015
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.
As we conclude the 43rd year of student representation on the Board, it is our responsibility to oversee elections for the
2015-2016 Student Advisory Council to the Board. Secondary school principals play a key role by encouraging
student participation and overseeing the election of two student representatives from each secondary school to serve
on the appropriate Regional Student Advisory Council (RSAC) each year.
The Student Advisory Council network is comprised of eleven regional councils, which are then incorporated into five
operating councils and one statewide council. The councils should reflect the diversity of Massachusetts’s secondary
school students. I would like to take this opportunity to urge you to encourage all students to consider running for
election to represent your school. Special encouragement might be given to students from linguistic, cultural, and racial
groups that have historically been under-represented on student councils.
This year, we will once again organize the regional councils around five regional meeting locations: Central
Massachusetts, Greater Boston, Northeast, Southeast, and Western Massachusetts. The list of schools that comprise the
regional councils is attached. Regional councils meet four times a year, generally in October, December, February,
and April, with an orientation in May for the upcoming year. The state council will meet every other month from
September– May, with orientations in May/June for the upcoming year. At the regional orientation meetings this
spring, students elected to serve on the regional council will learn more about the council, their roles and responsibilities
as RSAC delegates, and conduct the election of their RSAC officers: regional chairpersons and regional communications
coordinator, as well as delegates to the state council.
The students elected as RSAC officers from each regional council will be required to attend SSAC Orientations to elect
State Officers (May & June) and a Summer Leadership Conference in August (at no cost to students) where they will
receive additional training to serve in these leadership positions.
Enclosed is a Student Advisory Council election packet to assist you in conducting elections in your school. The
information is also posted at http://www.doe.mass.edu/sac/. Included in this packet are:
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Excerpts from Mass. General Laws, Chapter 15, Section 1E, establishing the Student Advisory Council
to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Student Advisory Council Functions and Responsibilities
Election Procedures for the Student Advisory Council
Student Data Sheet
Principal's Certification of Election Procedures
Election Affidavit
The established deadline for the Student Advisory Council elections in your school is April 3, 2015. It is important
that the two representatives from your school be elected by that date so that they may have the benefit of attending
the appropriate Regional Student Advisory Council orientation meeting, where they will learn more about the council.
After the election is held in your school, please fill out the form entitled Principal's Certification of Election Procedures.
Please be sure to complete the Student Data Sheet and have the representatives complete the Election Affidavit.
Please return all completed forms no later than April 10, 2015 to Donna Taylor. Forms may be faxed ATT: Donna
Taylor 781-338-3399, scanned and emailed to sac@doe.mass.edu or mailed to:
Donna Taylor, Advisor/Coordinator
State Student Advisory Council
Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, Massachusetts 02148
Once the forms are received, the Department will send an orientation letter to each elected student (at their home
address) as well as to the principal and student government advisor at participating schools. This letter will notify each
of you of the upcoming orientation meetings for new members.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact the advisor to your regional council (listed
below) or Donna Taylor at 781-338-6320 dtaylor@doe.mass.edu. We look forward to meeting your school's student
representatives to the 2015-2016 Regional Student Advisory Council.
Regional Student Advisory Councils (RSAC) & Advisors:
Central Massachusetts (CMRSAC)
Donna Taylor, dtaylor@doe.mass.edu
Greater Boston (GBRSAC)
Joeatta Smith-Nwachuku, jsmith-nwachuku@doe.mass.edu &
Juan Tapia, jtapia@doe.mass.edu
Northeast (NERSAC)
Jennyfer Cabral jcabral@doe.mass.edu &
Gardy Laurent glaurent@doe.mass.edu
Southeast (SERSAC)
Christine Cowen ccowen@doe.mass.edu &
Michael Seymour mseymour@doe.mass.edu
Western Massachusetts (WMRSAC)
Joanne Puopolo, jpuopolo@doe.mass.edu
Regional Orientation Dates for students elected to the 2015-2016 Council are:
CMRSAC
April 29, 2015
GBRSAC
May 7, 2015
NERSAC
May 1, 2015
SERSAC
May 12, 2015
WMRSAC
May 1, 2015
NOTE: Regional Student Advisory Council meetings are currently held at the following locations:
Central Mass. – Hudson High School, Hudson
Greater Boston – Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, Malden
Northeast – Essex Agricultural School, Danvers
Southeast – Hanover High School, Hanover
Western Mass. – Northampton High School, Northampton
If your school is listed as a member of one Regional Student Advisory Council, but it is easier for your students to travel to a different regional
council meeting location, you may designate the new region on the Student Data Sheet. Please duplicate forms as necessary to register your
students.
Excerpts from Mass. General Laws, Chapter 15, Section 1E,
http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter15/Section1E,
establishing the Student Advisory Council to the Board of Elementary & Secondary
Education
Section 1E. There shall be in the department a board of elementary and secondary education,
in this chapter called the board, which shall consist of the chairman of the student advisory
council established under this section, the secretary of education, in this chapter called the
secretary, or her designee, and 9 members appointed by the governor. …
…
There is hereby established a student advisory council to the board of education, consisting of
four elected representatives from each student regional council established under the provisions
of this section, one of whom shall be a student in a vocational secondary school. The members of
said student advisory council shall by majority vote prior to the first day of June in each year
elect from their number a chairman who shall serve for a term of one year.
Said student advisory council shall meet from time to time and shall consider such matters as it
deems appropriate for its chairman to place before the board.
There are hereby established not less than five nor more than fifteen student regional councils,
whose membership shall be limited to elected student representatives from the secondary
schools of the commonwealth who have been residents of the commonwealth for at least six
months prior to their election. Said student regional councils shall consist of not less than twenty
nor more than forty-five student representatives.
No person shall be eligible to be elected to a student regional council unless at the time of his
election he is enrolled as a student in a secondary school within the commonwealth. If at any
time during his term of office a member of a student regional council ceases to be so enrolled,
his membership shall be terminated and his position shall be terminated and his position shall be
deemed vacant. A vacancy on the student advisory council prior to the expiration of a term
shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as elections to full terms. A
vacancy on a student regional council shall be filled by a majority vote of the entire
membership of said regional council. The terms of the elected members of the student advisory
council and of the student regional council shall be not more than three years, but no member
shall be prevented from running for election for three successive terms. Members of student
regional councils shall serve without compensation except that they shall be reimbursed for
necessary expenses incurred in travelling to and from meetings.
Each student regional council shall meet from time to time with the student advisory council to
advise said council regarding business that it deems appropriate to be considered by said
advisory council.
Student Advisory Council Functions and Responsibilities
What is the Student Advisory Council to the State Board of Elementary & Secondary Education?
The Student Advisory Council (SAC) is a statewide organization of secondary school students elected
by their fellow students. The SAC advises the Commissioner and Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education (Board), and has voting representation on the state Board. There are eleven regional
councils across the state that meet as five functioning regional councils (RSAC), as well as a
coordinating state council (SSAC) elected by the regions. By state law, every Massachusetts
secondary school is entitled to elect two student representatives to the RSAC.
Who is eligible to be a member of the Regional Student Advisory Council?
Any enrolled high school student who will not graduate before May 1, 2016 and who has resided
within the Commonwealth for at least six months prior to the election is eligible for election from
his/her school to the RSAC.
What does a member of the Regional Student Advisory Council do?
Each RSAC member must attend regularly scheduled meetings at which he/she represents the concerns
of his/her student body along with other students representing their schools’ educational concerns and
needs. More important, a RSAC member acts on these needs and interests. There is no compensation
for RSAC members, although the member’s school committee pays travel expenses to and from
regional meetings.
State & Regional Student Advisory Council projects, proposals, and activities have included:
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Serving on the Cross-Secretariat Task Force on School Safety and Security; Serving on
the Safe & Supportive Schools Commission
Testifying before the Attorney General’s Commission on Bullying Prevention;
Drafting recommendations for and providing public comment on education policy, e.g.,
Civic Education & Engagement; Digital Learning; ESEA Waiver; Evaluation of Teachers
and Administrators; Core Curriculum Recommendations /MassCore; Educational
Proficiency Plans (EPP); English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science &
Technology Education Curriculum Frameworks; Certificate of Mastery; MCAS Appeal
Regulations; Charter School Regulations; Student Records Regulations;
Vocational/Technical Education Frameworks; Certificate of Occupational Proficiency;
and Time & Learning;
Co-sponsoring student conferences and forums;
Encouraging students to be involved in local school policy issues;
Participating in educational decision-making at regional and state levels; and
Advising the Board and Commissioner of Education through membership on
Department and Board committees and proposal reading teams.
The RSAC and SSAC provide students with the opportunity to become involved with leadership and
decision-making of many types. Student input is often sought by various units within the Department,
as well as other state agencies and organizations addressing issues students face in school. In
addition, guest speakers at meetings have provided students with information on many current issues:
Digital Learning in Massachusetts; College and Career Readiness; Guidance & Counseling;
Addressing the Achievement Gap; Expanded Learning Time; Dropout Prevention; Physical and Mental
Health; Bullying Prevention; Nutrition; Wellness; and School Funding.
ELECTION PROCEDURES FOR THE STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
TO THE MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF ELEMENTARY and SECONDARY EDUCATION
AS ADOPTED JANUARY 23, 1973 (LAST REVISION, 2006)
The following are procedures for the election of student representatives to the Student Advisory
Council and to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
a.
There shall be annual elections by April 4 for the purpose of electing
student representatives to the Regional Student Advisory Council. The
term of said regional representatives shall begin on or about May 1.
Each secondary school shall elect two student representatives to serve a
one-year term providing they remain registered throughout the length of
the term. We strongly recommend the election of at least one student
from grades 9 or 10. No member shall be prevented from running for
election for four successive terms.
b.
The enforcement of the procedure governing the conduct of the election
shall be the responsibility of the principal.
c.
Any student who is enrolled in a secondary school and has been a
resident of the Commonwealth for six months shall be eligible for election
to the Regional Student Advisory Council, provided that he or she shall
remain enrolled throughout the following school year. Every student
enrolled in the school shall have an opportunity to vote unless absent.
d.
A suggested nomination schedule follows:
i. By March 13, election publicity should be completed. It should be aimed
at familiarizing all students with the roles and responsibilities of the
Student Advisory Council delegates and with the upcoming election
procedures.
ii. By March 20, all nominations for office should be closed.
iii. By March 27, nominees should have had the opportunity to campaign for
office.
e.
Nominees may be self-selected. Upon nomination each candidate shall
be given a copy of the Student Advisory Council Functions and
Responsibilities.
f. By April 3 elections should be held.
g. The two candidates who receive the first and second highest number of the
ballots cast will be deemed elected to the Regional Student Advisory Council.
h. The principal should sign the Principal’s Certification of Election Procedures, and
the student representatives should sign the Election Affidavit.
i.
The ballots and a record of the election should be kept on file in the school for
thirty days following the election.
j.
Within one week of the election or by April 10 the principal must notify in
writing the appropriate school committee and the Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education of the student’s name, address, grade
level and email address. The principal shall mail the following information to
the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:
1. Certification of Election Procedures, signed by the principal;
2. Election Affidavits, signed by those students elected; and
3. Student Data Sheet, providing the student representatives’ and school
information.
k. Once elected, the student representatives shall not be denied participation in
any Regional Student Advisory Council function or penalized in any way for
such participation.
l.
The school should award the elected students academic credit for their
participation in the Student Advisory Council.
m. If an elected representative terminates school, he/she ceases to be a member
of the Regional Student Advisory Council. In this case, or if a member resigns,
the vacancy should be filled by an election held to select a new representative.
n. Each of the eleven regional councils will elect four student representatives who
will serve on the State Student Advisory Council. One of the four students must
be from a vocational school. The Regional Student Advisory Council will
determine procedures for these elections.
o. Once elected, the student representatives to the State Student Advisory Council
shall not be denied participation in any State Student Advisory Council function
or penalized in any way for such participation.
p. The chairperson of the State Student Advisory Council shall be elected by a
majority vote of the state council. The State Student Advisory Council will
determine these election procedures.
q. The chairperson of the State Student Advisory Council will be the representative
to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for a oneyear term. His/her term shall commence on or about June 1.
r. A Regional Student Advisory Council may increase its membership by a majority
vote, although said membership shall not exceed forty-five.
s. In any area not covered in this delineation, action shall be taken consistent with
local ordinance and state statute.
Revised January 1979, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2006