1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
State Student Advisory Council
2014-2015
Presented by Chairman Donald Willyard

2. “
The single problem plaguing all students in all schools everywhere is the crisis
of disconnection. Meaningful Student Involvement happens when the roles of
students are actively re-aligned from being the passive recipients of schools to
becoming active partners throughout the educational process.
― Adam Fletcher

3. 955,844Students enrolled in Public K-12 Massachusetts Schools
In 2014
www.profiles.doe.mass.edu/state_report/enrollmentbygrade.aspx

4. 2014-2015 SSAC
Meeting Schedule:
Thursday 9/18/14
Thursday, 11/20/14
Thursday, 1/15/15
Thursday, 3/19/15
Thursday, 5/21/15
SSAC SUMMARY 2014-2015
What is the State Student Advisory Council?
⊡ SSAC is an organization under the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education’s Office for Student Support and is
required per Chapter 15 of M.G.L.
⊡ Passed with the rationale that to facilitate education, students
must be thought of as participants in, not merely recipients of,
the educational process.
⊡ SSAC is composed of five Regional Councils, that cover all
parts of the Commonwealth, and the State Council.
⊡ The Chairperson of the State SAC serves as a full voting
member of the Massachusetts Board of Education.
⊡ The chairperson represents the needs and the ideas of all
students in Massachusetts and is a communication link from
the Board to the SSAC.

5. WHAT WAS IMPORTANT
State Representatives gathered during the summer to
vote on what matter they would make their focus.

6. SSAC SUMMARY
College & Careers | Civic Education
The Council voted to work on College and Career Readiness
along with Civic Education, due to the shared concern over
M.G.L. Chapter 71 Section 2
“In all public elementary and high schools American history and civics, including the constitution of
the United States, the declaration of independence and the bill of rights, and in all public high schools
the constitution of the commonwealth and local history and government and a program relating to the
flag of the United States of America, including, but not limited to, proper etiquette, the correct use and
display of the flag, the importance of participation in the electoral process and the provisions of 36
U.S.C. 170 to 177, inclusive, shall be taught as required subjects for the purpose of promoting civic
service and a greater knowledge thereof, and of fitting the pupils, morally and intellectually, for the
duties of citizenship.”
MGL Ch. 71 Sec. 2

7. Civic Education & Engagement
Awareness & Intervention
1

8. Awareness:
National Findings:
⊡ 15 percent of Americans could
identify chief justice of the
Supreme Court, John Roberts.
⊡ 13 percent knew the U.S.
Constitution was signed in 1787.
⊡ 38 percent were able to name
all three branches of
government.
Civic Education & Engagement
Intervention:
⊡ Increasing accountability/more
closely monitoring compliance
with M.G.L. Ch. 71 Sec. 2.
⊡ Looking at what other states
have done

9. Awareness:
Tasks & Goals:
⊡ Creating small assessment
(“quiz”) for local school
distribution.
⊡ Assessment results would be
reported back to participating
school as a way to reflect
student knowledge and promote
self-improvement
Civic Education & Engagement
Intervention:
Advocacy:
⊡ Working with the Board &
Massachusetts Legislature for
High School requirement.
⊡ Working with existing Board
Civic’s committee lead by
Vice-Chair Roach, who will
present recommendations to
the Board in June.

10. COLLEGE YODA
College and Career Readiness Solutions
2

11. SSAC Summary: College Yoda
⊡ College Yoda was launched with the goal of
providing high school students with the means to
connect with college students and alumni.
⊡ Essentially a database of mentors.
⊡ Gives students one-on-one insider information
and personalizes a process that can be scary.

12. SSAC Summary: College Yoda
⊡www.CollegeYoda.org

13. Official Stances
Reflecting upon past and present issues
3

14. Official Stances
603 CMR 4.00
⊡ A student should be
able to apply and
attend any vocational
school, regardless of
residential status, for
the purposes of
exploring a trade not
offered in their own
vocational-technical
school.
603 CMR 46.00/18.00
⊡ A student or young
person’s exposure to
supine restraint
should be avoided
and is a last resort
⊡ It is a lot easier to
evaluate a student or
young person’s well-
being physically than
the emotional
ramifications of being
restrained in the
supine position.
MGL Ch. 71 Sec. 2
⊡ School districts
should implement a
dedicated Civics
class, not just teach
American History and
call it civics.
⊡ Was written knowing
that both classes
were needed to make
a civically engaged
youth and eventually
civically engaged
adults.

15. SSAC SUMMARY
Questions & Comments