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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has opened the application process for the honorary student member of the Board of Education for the 2025-26 school year. This annual position is aimed at representing the interests and perspectives of CPS students in decision-making for the nation's fourth-largest school district.
"Having the student perspective is incredibly important and key to informing our decisions," stated Board President Sean B. Harden. "The Board’s ultimate goal is to develop the highest quality educational system possible for all CPS students, so we rely on our honorary student board member to help us do that through direct engagement and by elevating the voices of our students from across the District.”
Students from CPS who are rising into the 11th or 12th grade are encouraged to apply. The application period starts from Monday, March 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025. Eligible students must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and proven leadership experience. Applications can be submitted through a Google form available on the Board of Education's website.
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez emphasized the importance of student participation, saying, “We not only want to make space to hear from our students but also cultivate a sense of appreciation for our students’ perspective at every level of our District. Student board members bring unique issues and perspectives to the Board of Education, and student participation in Board activities prepares our students to be engaged members of the community. I encourage all aspiring student leaders to apply to this position.”
The selected honorary student board member will represent CPS students at the Board's monthly meetings and serve on a District-level student committee. In addition, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their further education at either a two or four-year college or university.
Carolina Carchi, a senior from Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School, currently holds the position. "Representing my fellow CPS classmates as the Honorary Student Board Member has been an amazing experience that I will always hold dear to my heart," Carchi said. "Students want and deserve to have a voice in the decisions that impact them and their academic goals. So, I'm proud to have played an essential role in amplifying student questions, concerns, and ideas before the Board."
The role was established in 1995, with the intent of acknowledging the significance of student involvement in educational policy making and the Board’s responsibility to ensure education quality for the community's youth.
