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There are many ways you can get involved with leadership in City Schools. Student leaders advocate for their peers and use their voice to make their school and city better. They build skills like organization, independence, teamwork, communication, and listening. Student leaders have fun doing important work for their community and they make lifelong friendships.
Get involved in a leadership organization.
Join the Student Government Association (SGA) at your school.
SGA represents the student body in important decisions, from the school budget, to dress code, to what events the school will host. SGAs also plan and lead service activities and fun events to make the school better, like dances and spirit weeks. If your school doesn’t have an SGA, learn how to start one here or talk to your principal. Too late to join or didn’t get elected? Ask your school’s student government advisor if you can volunteer on a specific project.
Vote for your city-wide student leaders on ASCBC and consider running for election.
ASCBC is the umbrella organization for all SGAs in Baltimore City. It advocates for students to the School Board, participates in state-level youth leadership, and sets priorities for all students based on the input of SGAs across Baltimore. You can find ASCBC @BaltCityASCBC on Instagram and Twitter or on its website. Elections happen in the fall, and every student in 6th to 12th grade can vote.
Join a student-led organization at your school.
If there isn’t a club that interests you at your school, you can start your own organization! Students lead school newspapers, book clubs, Black Student Unions, Gender Sexuality Alliances, video game clubs, and many more! Talk to your principal about how to start a new organization, find an advisor, and get space and resources for your new group.
Become a Youth Ambassador.
Youth Ambassadors get special training and design impact projects to benefit their school community. They form a club of other like-minded students to complete the project and keep it running after the program ends. Youth Ambassadors get a stipend and resources to get their club up and running. Ask your principal if your school has a Youth Ambassadors program and whether you can get involved.
Join the Student Media Team.
The City Schools Student Media Team has provided real, industry-level training for students with the creation of over 400 productions ranging from multi-camera live streaming, covering stories, and making TV shows and promos. Students receive formal development from the Office of Communications, connect with industry professionals, and produce content. Check out their content or join the student media team.
Join a local youth-led and youth-serving organization.
Baltimore has lots of amazing youth-led and youth-serving organizations that collaborate with City Schools. Look up groups like Youth as Resources, Baltimore Algebra Project, Heart Smiles, Wide Angle Youth Media, and the No Boundaries Organization. There are so many, we can’t list them all here!
Don’t want to join a group but still want to have your voice heard?
- If your school has a student government, be sure to vote in the student election.
- Attend your school’s School Family Community Council. These councils include parents, teachers, community leaders, your principal, and students. When you attend a Council meeting, you’ll work with this team to set goals and make decisions about how the school should run. Ask your principal when your School Family Community Council meets.
- Attend a School Board meeting and tell your Student Commissioner how to advocate for you. How can City Schools improve? You can attend a School Board meeting and sign up to give public comment on your views. Can’t make the meeting? Share your ideas with Student Commissioner Quinn–he’s your voice on the School Board. You can find him @quinn_kz on IG.
- Complete surveys and attend forums to share your views on how your school and school district is doing. City Schools asks for student feedback on policy changes, school police, and school performance multiple times each year. City Schools also hosts annual forums for students to provide feedback to the School Board and the CEO. Follow @baltcityschools on IG or Twitter to stay up-to-date on these opportunities.
Who represents me in City Schools?
- ASCBC, the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City, is your elected youth government. Its members are all the student governments across Baltimore and its Executive Board is elected every year by all 6-12th grade students in Baltimore City. ASCBC represented students to the School Board, to City Schools decision-makers, and to local and state government. To learn more about how ASCBC is advocating for you, to share your opinions, or to apply for a position on the Executive Board, find ASCBC @BaltCityASCBC on IG and Twitter and visit its website.
- The Student Commissioner is also elected by the students of Baltimore City. To learn about how you can apply and run for election as the Student Commissioner, visit ASCBC’s elections page.
- The CEO’s YLAC, the Youth Leadership Advisory Council, is a group of students who meets regularly to advise the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools. The students on the CEO’s YLAC come from all across Baltimore and hold diverse interests, talents, and backgrounds. They give the CEO key insights about the student body.
