California Association of Student Councils

California Association of Student Councils (CASC)
Motto Change the future
Formation 1947
Legal status non-profit 501(c)(3)
Headquarters Oakland, California
Location
  • 1212 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612
Executive Director
 June E. Thompson, Ph.D.
Board Chair
 Sue Dykema
Affiliations National Leadership Institute
Staff
 2
Volunteers
 200+
Website www.casc.net

The California Association of Student Councils (CASC) is a non-profit, student-led, student-run youth leadership and advocacy organization.

Overview

The California Association of Student Councils is a youth training/mentoring organization that also lobbies for youth-oriented legislation. It runs over sixty student leadership training events a year training students from elementary, middle, and high school students in leadership and team-building skills. All trainings are peer-to-peer, and thus all directors and counselors at the conferences are students.

In addition to leadership trainings, CASC serves as an advocate for youth in Sacramento, lobbying continuously through the year. CASC hold two conferences each year at which students create formal proposals to the California State Board of Education and California State Senate Education Committee.

CASC programs are hands-on experiences that demonstrate the power of peer-to-peer teaching, with students as mentors and instructors. CASC works toward the principles on which it was founded in 1947: “to give students actual experiences and involvement in decision making and democratic experiences.” Their student officers, trainers and alumni are consistently recognized for their professionalism, competence, and adaptability.[1]

Mission

“The mission of the California Association of Student Councils is to provide leadership development for elementary, middle and high school students that emphasize authenticity, ethics, and collaborative decision-making through peer counseling. Our primary focus is the training of students, advisors and organizations in California and across the world. CASC enhances the quality of education by involving students in activities and programs outside the classroom that build citizenship and encourage self-esteem. CASC serves as an advocate for youth, provides a channel for student views, and empowers youth to take action."[2]

Purpose

"The purpose of the California Association of Student Councils is to improve the quality of life in the world by developing skilled, ethical and sensitive leaders of diverse backgrounds and cultures."[2]

Structure

State Council

Most of the work done by the California Association of Student Councils is completed by the members of the State Council. The State Council is made up entirely of high school students that are appointed in the spring of each year to serve a one-year term. The positions are:

**Last edited on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 by Michelle Tran**

Regions

Each region has its respective president who appoints a cabinet from students between the grades of 9-12 from that region. The positions available on Region Cabinet include but are not limited to:

Board of Directors

The CASC Board of Directors is composed of eleven adults and five students elected by the State Council. Students and adults on the board share equal permissions and responsibilities as board members.

The current members of the board include:

CASC Programs

Summer Leadership Conferences

CASC summer leadership conferences bring together students and advisors at multi-day training conferences held on college campuses such as University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Santa Barbara. All of the curriculum is taught through hands-on activities in small groups led by high school and college students. Skills are taught in areas including.[3][4][5]

One-Day Leadership Workshops

One-day workshops throughout the state focus on individual and group skill development. Working with trained high school and college students who serve as role models, students meet in small groups with peers from other local schools to practice meeting and presentation skills and to engage in collaborative problem solving exercises.[3][4][6]

Staff Development Program

Students (sophomores and older) who have successfully completed the CASC basic high school summer leadership program become eligible to attend a three-day staff development program. Upon completing the training they may be recommended to serve as a trainer at any CASC conference. Additionally, selected college-age CASC trainers are invited to attend Advanced Skills Training. Trainers of trainers and international staff are selected from this group.[3][4]

ASB Advisor Workshop

This two-day workshop focuses on the role of a Student Council/ASB, structure, selection and training of members, team-building techniques, evaluation of performance, coaching and feedback. Participants have an opportunity to share best practices as well as address current challenges.[3][4]

Leadership Educators Workshop

This two-day program is focused on curriculum for training current and aspiring student leaders. Topics covered include: units of study, principles of design, integration of lessons with event planning, and grading. Participants develop skills in meeting planning and management, situational leadership, team development, and project planning. Time is allocated for exploring resources.[3][4]

Student Advisory Board on Education (SABE)

At this multi day conference, students from all over the state learn about education policy and have an opportunity to influence it. The SABE conference has been held annually since 1966. SABE proposals are presented to the State Board of Education. SABE is run by the Education Policy Director

Additionally, delegates at the SABE conference elect the top six of twelve candidates for the student position on the State Board of Education. These six are then sent to the State Board to be narrowed down the top three.[7]

Student Advisory Board on Legislation in Education (SABLE)

High school and middle school students throughout California gather in Sacramento to discuss educational issues of common concern and prepare proposals for the Assembly Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee. SABLE is run by the Education Policy Director.[7]

Youth Action Summit of California (YASC)

Held during the school year, this multi-day conference for high school and middle school students attracts participants throughout the state. Participants are trained in skills including project planning, meeting skills, resolving conflict, lobbying, collaborating with adults, attracting media attention and surveying student opinion. Opportunities for action at school and in the community are explored in elective workshops. YASC is run by the YASC Director on the State Council

Student Board Member Symposiums

These one-day interactive workshops bring together serving and aspiring student board members together with adult board members and consultants. The program focuses on training in areas necessary for these students to serve effectively, including responsibilities and roles, best practices and techniques for surveying students.[8]

Student Accreditor Program

In cooperation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, CASC selects students to be members of school accreditation teams.

Custom Designed Programs

CASC designs full school leadership and personal development programs, differentiated instruction opportunities, conflict management training, meeting skills, workshops and team building for individual student councils, schools, districts, departments, and organizations. Custom Designed Programs are called Special Projects, and are run by the Special Projects Director.

CASC 2020

CASC 2020 is CASC’s vision for the ideal state of education in California by the year 2020. This program rests on four main goals:

With these four goals, CASC has created benchmarks and guidelines for schools to work to accomplish these goals.

Accomplishments

(Taken from literature published by the California Association of Student Councils)

Schools

Organization

National

International

Honors

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Org/14910-61
  2. 1 2 http://www.casc.net/about
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.casc.net
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/casc.asp
  5. ↑ "A Conversation with Jenna Carli". The InSite; March 1998.
  6. ↑ http://www.oac.cdlib.org/data/13030/ws/kt829021ws/files/kt829021ws.pdf
  7. 1 2 Feuer, Aaron, and Anysia Mayer, Ph.D. "Students as School Leaders" March & April 2008. Britannica. Web.
  8. ↑ Feuer, Aaron, and Anysia Meyer, Ph.D. "Student Board Members Make a Difference" AsIseeIt Winter 2008. AsIseeIt. Web.
  9. ↑ Finding Aid for the Genevieve Ardolf McDermott Collection of California Association of Student Councils Records, 1946–1971.

External links


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