MEMBERS SOUGHT FOR NEXT-GENERATION STUDENT COUNCIL

            (FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Public school students in grades 10-12 are invited to apply for membership in the Next-Generation Student Council, a new group formed by Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday.

The purpose of the council is to provide valuable feedback from Kentucky students and to engage student leaders in learning by doing. This group will meet with the commissioner and Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff, both in person and virtually, to discuss how decisions made at the state level are affecting students throughout Kentucky and provide feedback -- from a student perspective -- on critical issues impacting Kentucky students and schools.

The Next-Generation Student Council is a year-long program for Kentucky public school students in grades 10-12. The council seeks students with refreshing ideas and thoughtful insight into how schools and student achievement can be improved. Students who represent the diverse academic, geographic, demographic and school-size variables particular to Kentucky are encouraged to apply.

The application and FAQs for the council are now on the KDE website for students to complete and return to KDE via fax, postal mail or e-mail.

Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, November 30.

A committee of KDE representatives will review and score all applications based on the answers provided to the questions. Appointments to the council will be based on how well the applicants communicated their ideas and goals. Then, 11 students will be selected for the council to serve during the 2011-12 school year.