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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Students in Kentucky lack a prominent voice in decision-making at their schools, according to a new report by a non-partisan, nonprofit committee dedicated to improving the state's schools.
The Lexington Herald-Leader (http://bit.ly/2aUb1Nc ) reports that the "Students as Partners" report by Kentucky's Prichard Committee Student Voice Team found that only six percent of school decision-making councils in the state have advisory student members, two percent have voting student members and nine percent of school boards have student members.
The report, released last week, surveyed 189 schools in Kentucky. It offered recommendations that include creating a platform where students can share their perspectives with educators.
"They can work to see students as co-creators, empower students to gather feedback from their peers, and provide students with a formal platform from which to voice their opinions," the report said.
The report also found that 53 percent of school councils and 46 percent of school boards would be willing to add a student member.
Project leader Eliza Jane Schaeffer said she hopes the report encourages Kentucky to recognize that students' voices offer more opportunity to improve the state's school system.
"Including students as partners, in substantive conversations, benefits schools as much it benefits students," executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Brigitte Blom Ramsey said.
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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com
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