Texas American Federation of Teachers

01/17/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2025 15:08

Texas Student Group Establishes a Student Bill of Rights

Publish Date: January 17, 2025 2:42 pm
Author: Texas AFT

On Jan. 7, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a student-led movement demonstrating youth visibility in educational policymaking, delivered a Student Bill of Rights to more than 1,200 Texas policymakers in advance of the 89th Legislature.

Over 100 students from various grade levels, backgrounds, lived experiences, identities, and political perspectives participated in the creation of this landmark piece of student advocacy. The Student Bill of Rights declares that students deserve:

  • Agency to make decisions in education
  • High-quality public education for all
  • Safe and welcoming school environments conducive to growth
  • Freedom of expression in a pluralistic, multicultural democracy
  • Holistic student care to support health and well-being
  • Truthful, critical, and substantive curriculum
  • To be leaders of today, not only of tomorrow
  • Streamlined and personalized pathways for lifelong learning

"We know firsthand where the faults in our education are because we see them every day. We can envision what an ideal education system can look like," said Hayden Cohen (they/them), SEAT State Policy Director and university student in Houston.

SEAT is a relatively new organization but has proven itself as a formidable voice for students in the Texas Legislature and beyond. SEAT has previously supported policies to advance youth mental health, create justice for transgender Texans, expand Ethnic Studies curriculum in Texas schools, and push for the closing Texas' five remaining youth prisons. With additional attacks on academic freedom such as library book censorship anticipated, SEAT organizers remain committed to elevating student voice in policymaking.

"The Student Bill of Rights represents a moment where we, as students, are asserting our fundamental right to have a seat at the table," said Grace Ding, SEAT research director and a Katy ISD student. "Student voices have been silenced far too long in decisions affecting our educational realities. Our declaration is the product of diverse student perspectives across Texas coming together to envision a future that serves all of us."

Texas AFT applauds these advocates in harnessing their collective power to advance the perspective of those whom our education system is supposed to serve: our students. We see many areas of overlap with SEAT's Student Bill of Rights and Texas AFT's Educator's Bill of Rights, and we look forward to working in partnership with SEAT on our shared issues in the coming months.