Public school students in grades 10-12 are invited to apply for membership on the Commissioner’s Student Council, an advisory group that provides input and feedback to Kentucky Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt. The council also is designed to engage student leaders in learning by doing.

The Commissioner’s Student Council is a year-long program. The group will meet with the commissioner and Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff to discuss how decisions made at the state level are affecting students throughout Kentucky. Members will provide feedback – from a student perspective – on critical issues impacting Kentucky students and schools.

The council seeks students with innovative ideas and thoughtful insight into how schools and student achievement can be improved. Students who represent the diverse academic, geographic, demographic and school-size variables particular to Kentucky are encouraged to apply, including students enrolled in career pathways and students at the Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky School for the Deaf. The application and a list of Frequently Asked Questions are available on the KDE website, http://education.ky.gov/CommOfEd/adv/Pages/Next-Generation-Student-Advisory-Council-.aspx.

Interested students should complete and return the application to KDE via postal mail or email. Applications must be received by or postmarked no later than 4:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, September 15.

A committee of KDE representatives will review and score all applications based on the answers provided. Appointments to the council will be determined by how well the applicants communicated their ideas and goals.

Students selected to serve on the council include two students from each of the seven Kentucky Board of Education districts, and at least one student from the Kentucky School for the Blind, the Kentucky School for the Deaf and a student enrolled in a career and technical education pathway. Students selected for the council have the option to serve consecutive one-year terms as long as they remain eligible to serve. The students selected this year will join seven returning members on the Commissioner’s Student Council.