The Student Advisory Board
The 2025-2026 Student Advisory Board Application is NOW OPEN! Please note that this opportunity is open to rising high school seniors only (students entering their senior year in the fall of 2025 and expected to graduate in the spring of 2026).
Apply Here For The 2025-2026 Student Advisory Board
The Student Advisory Board is a highly competitive group comprised of one student from every Superintendent’s Region in the Commonwealth. The Board works closely with the Virginia Department of Education to provide student perspectives and plays a vital role in the creation of policy by the Virginia Board of Education. Students are chosen based on demonstrated academic achievement and passion for educational policy issues. The students will pick an education topic of their choosing and present suggested policy solutions to the Board of Education. Additionally, the students will have a private meeting with Governor Youngkin to present their ideas.
The Student Advisory Board will meet from 5pm-7pm on the second Tuesday of each month beginning in October. The final meeting will be in person at the Summer 2026 Virginia Board of Education meeting (date TBD). We kindly ask that you do not apply if these meetings dates are unavailable or if you have more than one scheduled absence. Unexcused absences are cause for removal from the Board. We look forward to reviewing your application!
2025-2026 Student Advisory Board Meeting Schedule
Virtual via Teams and at the Patrick Henry Building, 111 E Broad St, Richmond VA 23219
The Student Advisory Board will meet from 5pm-7pm on the second Tuesday of each month beginning in October.
- Meeting #1: Tuesday, October 14
- Meeting #2: Tuesday, November 11
- Meeting #3: Tuesday, December 9
- Meeting #4: Tuesday, January 13
- Meeting #5: Tuesday, February 10
- Meeting #6: Tuesday, March 10
- Meeting #7: Tuesday, April 14
- Meeting #8: Tuesday, May12
- Final Meeting (in-person required): June Meeting of the Virginia Board of Education (date TBD)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Student Advisory Board was established in 2022 by the General Assembly to provide student perspectives to the Virginia Board of Education. Selected students work closely with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and will play a vital role in ensuring that student voices are heard in the creation of policies affecting education in the Commonwealth.
The Board will be made up of eight talented high school seniors representing each of the eight superintendent districts (map below). These eight students will be appointed by the Governor. Board members can be students attending public, private, or homeschool.
The Student Advisory Board will meet from 5pm-7pm on the second Tuesday of each month beginning in October. The final meeting will be in person at the Summer 2026 Virginia Board of Education meeting (date TBD). We will update selected students on the date of the final meeting as it becomes available.
Perspective applicants must be rising high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants will be required to provide a screenshot of their unofficial transcript showing their GPA. The application consists of basic information and three short answer questions.
§ 22.1-9.1. Student Advisory Board Established
A. There is hereby established the Student Advisory Board (the Advisory Board) for the purpose of providing student perspectives on matters before the Board.
B. The Advisory Board shall consist of eight members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall be a high school student who will enter senior year during the following school year and each of whom shall reside in a different Superintendent's region. Each member shall serve for a term of one year, and no member is eligible to be reappointed.
C. The Advisory Board shall meet at least semiannually in either an in-person or, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a virtual format and shall designate at least one member to make an annual presentation to the Board that includes analysis of and recommendations on matters before the Board or any other matter that the Advisory Board deems relevant.
Contact
Ms. Hannah Keeton Hughson
Communications Advisor
Office of the Secretary of Education
Patrick Henry Building
1111 East Broad Street, 4th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
