Youth Advisory Council

In 2024, Oregon passed Senate Bill 1552, which mandates the creation of a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) under the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to ensure that the diverse experiences and needs of Oregon's youth are reflected in decision-making processes. The Youth Advisory Council will be responsible for the following*:

• Setting Goals and Measuring Success - Develop clear goals for youth leadership in policy-making and set success criteria, while assessing and adjusting decision-making processes, work plans, and roles.
• Reviewing Existing Programs - Review current youth leadership programs and suggest improvements for youth accountability at state and local levels, with a focus on evaluation and enhancement.
• Connecting with Youth Leaders - Engage with youth leaders, particularly from diverse communities, and explore leadership networks to identify best practices.
• Assisting with Surveys - Assist in reviewing and improving surveys to ensure accurate representation of youth perspectives.
• Improving Reporting Processes for Bias Incidents - Evaluate and recommend improvements for how youth report bias incidents or hate crimes, ensuring better support for affected youth.

*These activities have been summarized from their original text in Senate Bill 1552 to improve access and understanding.