Local Assemblywoman’s Legislation Requires Student School Board Members

ALBANY — Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner’s bill requiring every school board and Board of Cooperative Education Services in New York State to appoint at least one non-voting student ex-officio member was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul last week. 

As a result, student school board members may participate in all public meetings and sit with the other board members. The student members will be non-voting and will not be entitled to participate in executive sessions or any other non-public proceedings.

Prior to this law, districts were allowed to appoint an ex-officio student member but had to seek approval from voters in their district via a referendum. Woerner’s legislation removes the referendum requirement. 

“As a former high school student school board member, I know firsthand what a wonderful experience it was to be my school’s student representative and to be able to offer students’ perspectives on all school board-related topics,” Woerner said in a statement.

The legislation will be effective starting July 1, 2025.