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Education2026-05-17

OPINION: Putting students on school boards treats young people as participants in their own democracy, but only if adults listen to them

Public school is the first place most Americans meet democracy. It is also, for almost all of them, the last place they experience it without a vote. School boards are elected by adults, staffed by adults and run for adults. They make decisions every week about buildings full of young people who ge

By The Hechinger Report

OPINION: Putting students on school boards treats young people as participants in their own democracy, but only if adults listen to them

Public school is the first place most Americans meet democracy

It is also, for almost all of them, the last place they experience it without a vote

School boards are elected by adults, staffed by adults and run for adults

They make decisions every week about buildings full of young people who ge