Ex Officio Student Board Member Implementation Resources

NYSSBA created this resource page to support school boards as they work to meet the July 1, 2025 requirement for most school districts and BOCES in the state* to select at least one student to serve as an ex officio member of the board.

These resources serve as a guide to a board’s decision-making in selecting and shaping the student member’s service. They will also assist student school board members in succeeding in their new role.

We join with our school boards in welcoming ex officio student board members to school board service. We want to support a positive and productive experience for student board members by creating conditions that encourage them to contribute to board discussions and to amplify student voices.

We encourage all school board members to use these resources to maximize the effectiveness of your ex officio student board member positions.

NYSSBA will be adding to these resources in the coming weeks. Please bookmark this page and check back frequently for updates.

Please contact policy@nyssba.org with questions.

Resources

• Sample Policy 2245, Ex Officio Student Member of the Board
• Ex Officio Student Board Members FAQ
• Webinar recording: Leading Together – Welcoming & Supporting Student Leadership on Your Board!
  
  • Webinar paperless page
• Empowering Student Voice: A Toolkit for Ex Officio Student Member of the Board (May 2025)
• The New Ex Officio Student Board Member (President’s Gavel Podcast)
• A three-part series of articles in On Board:
  • April 7 - 7 benefits of student school board members
  • April 28 - Ways to welcome student BOE members
    
  • May 19 - The student voice in school governance
    

Events

• August 1 – 2, 2025 – A session during the Leadership in Education Event
  
  

*Common School Districts and Union Free School Districts that do not operate a high school are not required to have an ex officio student member of the board.