Massachusetts State Student Advisory Council
The Massachusetts State Student Advisory Council (SAC) is a democratic student organization, whose statewide Chairperson serves as a voting member on the Massachusetts Board of Education. The Council has three main objectives: [1]
- To consider all matters that its membership deem appropriate concerning education at the local, state and national levels; to make proposals and recommendations to the Massachusetts Board of Education concerning such matters; and to suggest guidelines and legislation to improve the quality of education throughout the Commonwealth.
- To encourage, support and work with the Regional Student Advisory Councils, interested student organizations, and interested individuals on matters of common concern; and to maintain close liaisons with the appropriate organizations in the educational, legal and social communities.
- To pursue the above objectives through the following general activities: researching, introducing, supporting and aiding in the implementation of state and national legislation of interest to the Council; maintaining and strengthening existing avenues of communication and establishing new ones among agencies concerned with or involved in the administration of education throughout the Commonwealth and the nation; endorsing or conducting conferences dealing with important student issues; providing the State Board of Education with opinions, ideas, proposals, suggested guidelines, and other information of concern to students throughout the Commonwealth, and assisting the student Board member who is acting as representative of the Council.
2011 SSAC Officers
- Matthew Gifford, Chair
- Francis Ndicu, Vice Chair
- Ryan Casey, Recorder
History
The SSAC was established by the Massachusetts State Legislature with Chapter 1009 of the Acts of 1971 as one of the first organizations to provide for direct student involvement in statewide decision-making in education. Governor Francis W. Sargent filed this legislation stating, "If we are to replace confrontation with deliberation and shouting with dialogue, youth must be invited in, not shut out. We have ... a climate where young and old can sit together, talk, and listen."[2]
The SAC is composed of five Regional Councils and the State Council. According to Chapter 15: Section 1E of the General Laws of Massachusetts, every secondary school must elect two delegates to a Regional SAC. Each Regional Council elects eight (Greater Boston elects twelve) members to the State SAC. The State SAC has its own projects, but also helps coordinate those of the Regional SACs. The SSAC serves as a communication network to share educational information among all students.
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