Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders Today

Student Senates Across America

A Unique Student-Led Legislative Experience

Student Senates Across America is a high school civics course that guides students through a unique hands-on legislative experience that teaches not only the process of policy-making, but also develops student’s capacity in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and communication skills. This program can be used in a private school or charter school setting, or as part of homeschool programming.

Each Student Senate session is led by the students and can be facilitated by parents in a community setting, or educators in a school setting. Course options include a 15-session semester experience or a condensed

2-week “summer session”.

The Student Senate “session” gives students the opportunity to learn and experience:

• Identifying and researching the issues and topics of the day

• Serving in senate leadership positions

• Researching, writing, and defending a bill

• Working within committees to research and develop a committee bill

• Presenting findings to the senate

• Selecting and interviewing expert witnesses in the field of their topics

• Writing and defending their own individual bill

• Holding bill hearings

• Discussing, amending, and voting on their committee and individual bills

Throughout their senate “session” students grow in:

• Formulating opinions based on facts

• Participating in respectful political discourse

• Developing confidence

• Respect for the political position and process

• Using critical thinking skills

• Working in a team

• Using facts to persuade others

• Public speaking and presentation skills