BISMARCK – State school superintendent Levi Bachmeier is inviting young North Dakotans to serve on his Superintendent’s Student Cabinet, which offers students an opportunity to discuss concerns and shape policy in K-12 eduation.

Any student in grades six through 12 who attends a North Dakota public or nonpublic K-12 school or in the first year attending a North Dakota College, is eligible to apply, according to Bachmeier.

Student Cabinet terms last about 18 months, with meetings typically held every three months at the state Capitol. Members are picked to represent cultures, school sizes, age groups and regions within the state.

“Service on the student cabinet offers an exceptional opportunity to influence North Dakota K-12 education policy, as well as to gain experience in decision-making, leadership, public speaking, collaboration and advocacy,” Bachmeier said. “Cabinet service helps to prepare our next generation of young leaders.”

The Student Cabinet application forms can be found on the Department of Public Instruction’s website. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on July 24.

“Since I took office in November of last year, I have visited 50 school districts across North Dakota. These visits have strengthened my conviction that it is vitally important to speak to students firsthand about how they view their K-12 educational experience,” Bachmeier said. “The Student Cabinet will help me stay in touch with the young people who are our primary customers. I want to know what is going well in our schools, and I want suggestions about how to improve what is not going so well.”

Since the founding of the Cabinet in 2015, its members have spoken up for early childhood education, anti-bullying protection, increased access to mental health counseling for students, and greater availability of advanced placement and dual-credit courses among other issues.

The Student Cabinet has no pre-determined size, and has fluctuated in membership between 19 and 25 students. Incumbent members are eligible for reappointment.