Illinois Student Summit Elevates Student Voices in Education

​SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) hosted its second annual Student Summit on March 13 at the Student Union at the University of Illinois in Springfield. The summit provided more than 100 students from 40 school districts across the state with a platform to share their experiences, advocate for their needs, and help shape the future of education in Illinois.

The summit was designed to engage students in conversations about improving school environments, strengthening learning opportunities, and supporting student success. Students participated in breakout discussions on four key topics affecting students today: technology use and artificial intelligence, equity and access, college and career readiness, and school culture and chronic absenteeism.

"Students are the experts on what it's like to learn in Illinois classrooms today," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "Their perspectives help us better understand what's working, what needs to improve, and how we can build schools where every student feels supported and prepared for the future. We're grateful to the student leaders who shared their insights and participated in these important conversations."

Breakout sessions were facilitated by members of ISBE's Student Advisory Council (SAC), who guided discussions and encouraged participants to share perspectives based on their experiences in their home districts. The conversations allowed students to exchange ideas with peers from across Illinois while reflecting on ways schools can better support student engagement, opportunity, and well-being.

The ISBE Student Summit was by invitation only. ISBE extended invitations to members of the Student Advisory Council, the Illinois Career and Technical Student Organizations Board, and students who applied for the 2025-26 SAC.

"This is an opportunity for students to have our voices heard," said Plainfield School District 202 junior Peyton Noah. "We're the ones who experience school every day, so it's important that leaders understand what we're going through and how they can help make things better."

"The summit is important because of its purpose," said East St. Louis School District 189 sophomore Derion Millander. "We're here to strengthen student voice and hear directly from students. Students are the leaders of tomorrow, and they can't lead if their voices and beliefs aren't part of the conversation."

"It's really amazing to see adults come here and show that they care and want to listen to what students think needs to change in our education," said Ball Chatham CUSD5 sophomore Maryam Hafiz. "This event brings together students from across the state - from Chicago all the way to southern Illinois. It's a huge opportunity because students get to share what we experience, and state leaders can take those perspectives into account to help make education better."

The insights gathered during the summit will help inform the Student Advisory Council's recommendations to the ISBE Board. The council will present its recommendations to Board members in May to ensure student perspectives are considered in policies and practices that impact Illinois schools.

View pictures from the Student Summit.

Learn more about the Student Advisory Council on ISBE's Student Voices webpage.