FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2025
CONTACT:
Alexandria Castellanos
(213) 608-5897
LOS ANGELES, CA (SEPT. 16, 2025) – The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education has unanimously approved a resolution to strengthen civic engagement among students with the launch of “LAUSD High School Voter Education Weeks” set for September 15- 26, 2025 and April 14 -24, 2025, authored by Student Board Member Jerry Yang, and co-sponsored by Board Members Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Nick Melvoin and Sherlett Hendy Newbill.
The resolution supports initiatives to ensure every LAUSD high school student has the information and tools necessary to participate in the LAUSD Student Board Member election, while building lifelong voting habits through opportunities to learn about voting, practice civic participation, and engage in democracy early.
The LAUSD Student Board Member position, created in 2014, serves as the lead student advocate on the LAUSD Governing Board of Education, representing the interests of all District high school students. This effort aligns with National Voter Registration Day on September 16th, 2025.
“Last year, for the Student Board Member elections, 11,287, or 9.75% of high school students voted,” Student Board Member Jerry Yang said. “Although this number is significantly larger than any previous years, the Student Board Member position is meant to serve the students, and therefore requires the utmost level of civic engagement and voting.”
Yang added, “As such, I am proud to be presenting this resolution, alongside my Board of Education colleagues, to increase voter pre-registration, participation in Student Board Member elections, and civic engagement in high schools. I look forward to working with the District leadership team and the Student Empowerment Unit to increase both the number of students and diversity of students who vote each year.”
“Today is National Voter Registration Day and I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution, which underscores the importance of empowering our students through civic engagement,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “Our students’ voices matter, and teaching them about voting and advocacy shows them how they can create meaningful change. I am excited to see how the district will expand efforts to support voter education, including voting for the LAUSD Student Board Member, because fostering early civic engagement helps students build a lifelong habit of participation and active citizenship.”
“I’m grateful to my co-sponsors for helping bring forward this important resolution that encourages and supports students to make their voices heard,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “By promoting participation in the election of the District’s Student Board Member and recognizing LAUSD High School Voter Education Weeks, we remind students that their voices and votes matter. Teaching them the power of civic engagement strengthens our communities and our democracy, preparing the next generation of voters, advocates, and leaders.”
“I am proud to be a sponsor of this resolution that highlights the importance of voting on all levels – from Student Board Member to President of the United States,” Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill said. “By encouraging civic engagement in schools, we prepare our students to be the change makers we need to build a society that is just and beneficial to all. I encourage all of the District’s high schoolers to visit the Secretary of State High School and Youth Initiatives web page at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/high-school-programs.”
“Democracy only works through engagement, participation, and voting,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “At Los Angeles Unified, we are proud to create spaces where students can learn about the power and impact of elections, and develop the skills to be civically engaged.”
“Voting is the sacred right of all citizens and the more informed our students are about this right, the better,” said Board President Schmerelson. “I strongly support this resolution to ensure that our students are aware, first, of their ability to vote for the Student Board Member elections and also, that they are aware of their rights as a voter for the upcoming elections next year. Your vote is your voice and I hope to see our students have an amazing turnout for both their student board members and beyond.”
"Civic engagement begins in our schools. By empowering students to learn about the democratic process, register, and vote in our Student Board Member elections, we are planting the seeds of lifelong participation in our democracy,” Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas said. “Every student deserves the chance to have their voice heard and their leadership recognized.”
“To foster civically engaged communities, it’s essential that students engage in political education early,” Board Member Karla Griego said. “I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution, which highlights how young people across our region can continue to shape our democracy. Our students are not just future voters, they are advocates for their families and communities, using their voices to demand equity, justice, and true representation.”
“Every year, our Student Board Member brings a critical student voice to our Board,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “I’m proud we are finding new ways to engage our students in the voting process to select their representative on the Board.”
Key actions outlined in the resolution include:
- Comprehensive voter education: Schools will disseminate information about the LAUSD Student Board Member position, its responsibilities, and candidates to encourage greater participation.
- Student Board Member candidate videos: Schools will dedicate 20 minutes during the election period to show LAUSD Student Board Member candidate videos and guide students through the voting process.
- Toolkit distribution: Developed by the LAUSD Student Empowerment Unit, the toolkit will include information on the importance of voting, election history, information about the LAUSD Student Board Member candidates, flyers, and videos to be shared with students.
- Voter registration initiatives: High school seniors will be encouraged to preregister and register to vote at https://registertovote.ca.gov, and voter registration guides will be made available in all languages spoken across the District.
- Student voter outreach coordinators: Schools are encouraged to appoint student leaders to coordinate voter engagement and civic education programs.
- Service-learning opportunities: Students will have the chance to participate in projects related to voter registration, poll worker programs, and civic engagement.
Since 2016, more than 1.4 million California students have preregistered to vote, proving that when young people are given the chance, they step up to lead. LAUSD’s initiative ensures students not only learn about democracy – they live it.