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The Power of Student Stories in Advocacy

By Callie Wells posted 05-02-2023 03:33 PM

  


Sharing districts' and students' stories with our elected officials shows lawmakers the real lives of the students and staff affected by their decisions at the statehouse. Recently, a group of students from Chesapeake Union Exempted Village Schools took the time to share their stories and how supporting the Fair School Funding Plan impacts them during an Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education meeting. 

The impact of their testimony was moving and powerful. The emotion was palpable in the hearing room, as evidenced by how moved Rep. White was in her response to the student's testimony. By sharing their stories, these students were able to provide lawmakers with a better understanding of how school funding decisions impact their daily lives.

You can watch the hearing on the Ohio Channel here. Use the timestamp list underneath the video to find the segment you're looking for. To see the Chesapeake testimony go to the timestamps starting at 03:28. The lawmaker responses starting at 03:57 show how impactful the student testimony was.

The testimony of the Chesapeake students at the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education was a powerful reminder of the importance of sharing our stories with our elected officials. By doing so, we can ensure that the decisions made for our students and districts are informed by the experiences of those who will be most affected by them. 

Please consider coordinating advocacy efforts to include your district's students!

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