Granting official recognition and dedicated funding to democratically elected student unions in every middle and high school.
The Student Union Recognition and Funding Act
Students are the primary constituents of the school system, yet they have almost no formal power within it. Zhoran Mamdanis Student Union Act changes that. It mandates that every NYC public middle and high school facilitate the creation of a democratically elected Student Union. These unions would be officially recognized by the DOE, given a dedicated budget (a small per-student allocation), and provided with meeting space and a faculty advisor. Their purpose is to represent student interests to the administration, organize school events and campaigns, and manage a portion of the school budget through participatory processes.
Student Union representatives would also have voting seats on the Community School Councils, ensuring their voice in hiring and budgeting decisions. This policy institutionalizes student agency, teaches practical organizing and governance skills, and ensures that school policies are informed by those they affect most directly. Students are not just future citizens; they are citizens now, Mamdani argues. The Student Union gives them a real stake in their education and a platform to practice democracy. Its a training ground for the leaders our city needs.
