In an effort to include student-centered perspectives and the
opinions of youth in the education reform debate, the National
Council for Community and Education Partnerships and Booz
Allen Hamilton, Inc. formed a partnership to create
opportunities for youth to participate in a Youth Leadership Summit
during the NCCEP Annual Conference. The goal of this summit is to
allow students to voice their opinions, concerns, and suggestions
pertaining to education through a report to the Conference
attendees.
 Thirty students are
selected to be first time attendees at the Summit. These students,
known as scholars, come from GEAR UP programs throughout the United
States and its territories. Scholars are selected based on their
academic achievements, leadership roles, and letters of
recommendation. They are joined by four returning scholars from the
previous year, known as alumni. Alumni serve as counselors and
guides to the scholars, and assist the NCCEP staff with
administering the events. Collectively, they work to create a summit
report focused on what educators should consider when designing
strategies and programs aimed at improving student achievement; as
well as help business and community leaders, policy makers, and
educators understand the issues that students believe to be
important for improving student success and strengthening the
education system as a whole.
During the Summit, students engage in
active discussions regarding the challenges and successes facing
education today from their perspective. They have the opportunity to
compare and contrast their experiences with students from a variety
of other backgrounds, schools, and regions. Additionally, students
participate in leadership development, teambuilding, and
brainstorming sessions, all the while working towards creating their
summit report.
 The culmination of the Summit, and
the highlight of the NCCEP Annual Conference, is the presentation of
the report to the conference attendees. For a half an hour, the
Scholars are given the stage to voice their opinions and share their
ideas. Conference attendees frequently comment that
the Summit report brings a fresh and energized perspective that
reminds them why they became engaged in the education arena.
Applications for the 2007 Youth Leadership Summit will be available
in late January. All GEAR UP students who will have completed the 10th,
11th, or 12th grades by the conclusion of the
2006-2007 school year are encouraged to apply. If you have any
questions, please contact Marie Hughes at marie_hughes@edpartnerships.org
For additional information, please
click here to visit the NCCEP website.
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