In Miami-Dade County Public Schools, school board meetings are simply inaccessible to students. Not only are they scheduled concurrently with instructional time when students are expected to be in class, but transportation to the meeting chambers themselves is unavailable for many.

In a school district whose motto official seal says "giving our students the world," civic engagement by students should be encouraged, not ignored.

The Miami-Dade School Board has just introduced item H-13, which would greatly increase students' access to school board meetings by:

• Giving students more direct access to the Student Advisor, who is meant to represent MDCPS students on the school board.
• Allowing students to participate in school board meetings virtually.
• Excusing absences for students who miss class to attend MDCPS school board meetings.
• Recognizing time spent by students on participation in school board meetings as certified community service hours.
• Implementing a monthly “Student Town Hall” forum where students can address members directly with concerns impacting the student body.

We are not just students of MDCPS, but we are also citizens of the community it serves. We are the future of Miami Dade and we should be given the opportunity to develop our leadership skills and engage in the civic process. We deserve to be heard.