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.

For additional information, please click here to visit the NCCEP website.