Have you ever wanted to just sleep in and forget about school on a Monday? Perhaps you’ve wondered why you even have to go to school. Maybe you’ve questioned who controls how and what you learn in class. No matter what type of school you go to, as a student, you have more power than you think. This blog discusses the education system, how it affects you, the impact you can make on your community, and how you can get involved.

What Is the Role of the Education System? 

By law, you must go to school. Students attend three levels of school for 12 years:  

1. Elementary or primary school
2. Middle or junior high school
3. High school 

The U.S. education system prepares youth for success in adulthood. Success may include finding a job, attending higher education, joining the military, or pursuing other interests. 

How Is the Education System Separated?

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is the highest governing body for education in the United States. But this doesn’t mean that ED is the most powerful group. In fact, state departments of education and local education agencies (LEAs) play a significant role in education in the country. The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants states and local governments the right to govern their citizens and their education systems. [For more information on legislation, guidance, regulations, and other policies, please visits the Department of Education webpage featuring an overview of Laws and Guidance.] 

ED supports states through laws and acts and by funding projects and programs. Examples include the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

State departments of education have a very big impact on education as you know it. State agencies may include such groups as the state Board of Education, the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, and state boards of teacher accreditation. Approaches to education differ from state to state. For example, each state sets its own:

• Education, policies, standards, and curricula
• Educational content to teach
• Ways to evaluate student performance (sometimes through state- and grade-specific standardized tests)
• Structure for making decisions about education (for example, state agencies versus individuals versus private entities, such as parents or local school districts) 

Despite the built-in autonomy, state education systems tend to function in similar ways. One of their important roles is to provide funding for statewide education programs and local educational agencies (LEAs). 

The LEA may be a school district, charter school board, county department of education, or a related administrative group. LEAs serve many roles. For example, they:

• Manage the day-to-day functions of the schools
• Decide how money should be spent on facilities, staff, and student issues like clubs, programs, and other extracurricular activities
• Solve education-related problems
• Address requests by community members

How Can Students Help Shape Their School's Environment and Community? 

As a students, you’re the education system’s most important person. Because of that, you have a voice to get involved in your education. Concepts and policies of the education system may be complex. But by taking even small steps, you can become engaged in and learn more about it. 

One way to get engaged is to join a youth advisory council (YAC). YACs guide and assist school districts in shaping policies and practices that impact students. They may focus on any number of things, like preventing substance use, improving mental health, or advocating for students with disabilities.

You can also run for student council or ask to meet with your school principal or counselor to discuss your opinions, ideas, concerns, and questions. You may focus on the issues that are important in your area, such as your school’s dress code, your state’s standardized testing practices, or funding for education. No matter how you choose to get engaged, the most important thing is that you find and use the various resources available to you and take control of your future.

Sources: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Youth Advisory Councils: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yac/index.htm  

National School Boards Association – History: https://www.nsba.org/About/NSBA-History  

Serving on your local School Board: A foundation for success: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED521564.pdf  

U.S. Department of Education – About ED: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/index.html?src=oc

U.S. Department of Education – Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn

U.S. Department of Education – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: About IDEA: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/

U.S. Department of Education – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Sec. 300.28 Local education agency: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/a/300.28

U.S. Department of Education – Laws & Guidance: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/landing.jhtml?src=ft

U.S. Department of Agriculture – National School Lunch Program: https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp