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Want to Change a Rule or Policy?​

That means you need to work with the Legislative Branch — the people who make laws, vote on policies, and decide how rules are written.

If you want to:

  • Change a school rule

  • Create a new program at your school

  • Improve a city ordinance

  • Require something to happen (ex: recycling bins, safer crosswalks, later start times)

  • Allocate funding to a need in your community

You must work with a legislative body such as:

  • School Board

  • City Council

  • County Board of Supervisors

  • State Legislature

 

What Students Can Actually Do

Here are real steps students can take to influence policy:

 

Step 1: Identify the Rule or Policy

Ask:

  • What rule currently exists?

  • Who made this rule?

  • Who has the power to change it?

Example:

IssuePolicy Change

Students feel unsafe walking homeAdd crosswalk signals near school

Too much trash on campusRequire recycling bins

Students want ethnic studies clubChange ASB or club approval policy

Flooding on bike pathImprove city drainage ordinance

 

Step 2: Research the Current Policy

Find out:

  • Is there already a rule?

  • When was it created?

  • Has it been changed before?

  • Who voted for it?

Students can:
✔️ Look on district or city website
✔️ Read board meeting agendas
✔️ Ask school administrators
✔️ Talk to local officials

 

Step 3: Attend a Public Meeting

Students can attend:

  • School Board Meetings

  • City Council Meetings

  • County Supervisor Meetings

 

At these meetings they can:
✔️ Observe how decisions are made
✔️ Learn how voting works
✔️ Understand how policy discussions happen

 

Step 4: Give Public Comment

Most meetings allow community members to speak for 1–3 minutes.

Students can:


✔️ Share their experience
✔️ Explain why change is needed
✔️ Present research
✔️ Suggest a solution

 

Even one student voice can influence decision makers.

 

Step 5: Meet with an Elected Official

Students can request a meeting with:

  • A school board member

  • A city councilmember

  • A county supervisor

  • A state representative

 

In this meeting they can:
✔️ Present their civic project
✔️ Share community survey results
✔️ Explain the problem
✔️ Ask for support in changing the policy

 

Step 6: Propose a Policy Change

Students can:
✔️ Write a recommendation
✔️ Ask for a resolution
✔️ Request funding
✔️ Suggest new guidelines
✔️ Ask the board to place the item on a future agenda

This is where student civic projects turn into real change.

 

Step 7: Follow Up

Policy change takes time.

Students should:
✔️ Email a thank you
✔️ Ask about next steps
✔️ Attend the next meeting
✔️ Continue advocating
✔️ Build community support

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