Welcome to the Student Voices webpage and primary source of information for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Student Advisory Council (SAC)!
The ISBE SAC application window is now closed. Candidates selected for a virtual interview will be notified by August 30. All students selected for a seat on the 2024-25 SAC will be notified and announced by the end of September.
Who we are and what we do
The ISBE SAC, which was established in 1975, represents a diverse group of young leaders from across the state. Each year, members of the SAC members identify and research important topics and issues and impacting Illinois public school students.
The SAC provides students with an opportunity to build advocacy and leadership skills and lend their voices to policy development and important issues in education. The SAC meets with stakeholders, policymakers, and community partners virtually and in-person, multiple times each month to examine current research, brainstorm new ideas and develop policy recommendations to present to the State Board of Education from a student perspective.
During the school year, SAC members and collaborate with internal and external ISBE stakeholders to provide the Board of Education and local school leaders with recommendations and ideas on how to improve school learning environments and academic outcomes from a student perspective. SAC members are passionate about student advocacy and creating impactful change through educational legislation, policies, and rules.
