I call upon the New Haven Charter Revision Commission and Board of Aldermen to include on the November 2013 ballot a question to voters about mandating student representation on the New Haven Board of Education in the New Haven Charter.

We believe that student representation on the Board of Education will:
• Improve the quality of decisions made by the Board of Education
• Expand the civic engagement of young people
• Engage the entire student body as partners in their education

The Connecticut Board of Education has student board members, as do our neighbors in West Haven. Across the nation, students have served on local and state Boards of Education for over 30 years.

Two New Haven public school students, elected in their junior year by their peers for two-year terms, in staggered terms, will engage the fresh ideas and consumer voice needed to transform our public education to excellence.