Youth-led Advocacy

The CPS Student Advisory Council’s (SAC) mission is to build a network of youth input that informs the CEO’s office to influence principals working to build a positive school culture in their schools.

The CPS Student Advisory Council is composed of 20 youth from high schools across the city. The group advises the Chief Education Officer of Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Janice K. Jackson, on the youth perspective of all school-related policies and issues. The Council members work in subcommittees with CPS leaders to develop action plans based on youth led research on building community investment in neighborhood schools.

Notable Achievements

• Developed a comprehensive list of 7 recommendations on areas of community engagement in CPS neighborhood schools including: community perspective safe passages, libraries, life skill classes, and social emotional learning classes.
• Students also developed a Parent Language Initiative and a Feeder School Initiative that will be piloted during the 2016-2017 school year.
• Members of the Student Advisory Council were invited to moderate a panel of Janice Jackson, Forest Claypool and other CPS leaders for over 1,000 principals.
• Created a video and curriculum to address cyber-bullying in schools.
• Rolled out a district-wide survey to help improve relations between students and security guards.

2020 Recommendations

Throughout the summer, Mikva Challenge youth policymakers identified the most pressing issues and inequities currently affecting Chicago youth. At a town hall event, they presented their policy recommendations and identifying ways to take action to turn their vision for our city into a reality. Read the CPS Student Advisory Council’s full set of recommendations.