| California Association of Student Councils (CASC) | |
| Abbreviation: | CASC |
| Formation: | 1947 |
| Status: | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Headquarters: | Portola Valley, California |
| Location: | 3130 Alpine Road, Suite 288, Portola Valley, California 94028 |
| Region Served: | primarily California |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | June E. Thompson, Ph.D. |
| Leader Title2: | Board Co-Chairs |
| Leader Name2: | Kelly Wachowicz & Maria Pappas |
| Leader Title3: | State President |
| Leader Name3: | David Bae[1] |
| Affiliations: | National Leadership Institute |
| Num Staff: | 4 |
| Num Volunteers: | 200+ |
The California Association of Student Councils (CASC) is a non-profit, student-led youth leadership and advocacy organization. Founded in 1947 by the California Department of Education and the Association of California School Administrators, CASC has provided a multitude of conferences to students, advisors, and professionals in both California and around the world.
The California Association of Student Councils is a youth training/mentoring organization that also lobbies for youth-oriented legislation. It runs over sixty student leadership training events a year training students from elementary, middle, and high school students in leadership and team-building skills. All trainings are peer-to-peer, and thus a majority of the staff at conferences are students.
In addition to leadership trainings, CASC serves as an advocate for youth in Sacramento, lobbying continuously through the year. CASC holds two conferences each year at which students create formal proposals to the California State Board of Education and the California State Senate or the California State Assembly Education Committees.
CASC works toward the principles on which it was founded in 1947: “to give students actual experiences and involvement in decision making and democratic experiences.” Their State Council Members, trainers, and alumni are consistently recognized for their professionalism, competence, and adaptability.[2]
The State Council consists of 24 California high school students who are appointed in the spring of each year to serve a one-year term. The student council is divided into two branches known as the Executive Cabinet and State Cabinet. Each member retains full voting rights and is primarily responsible for promoting membership, developing annual plans, organizing and approving conferences/programs, setting program policies, proposing/approving structural changes, approving management training, and developing long-term plans.
There are 12 regions across California and each region has its respective president who appoints a cabinet composed of students (grades 9-12) from that region. The positions on each cabinet, include:
The Board of Directors is composed of ten adults and five students elected by the State Council. All members of the board share equal permissions and responsibilities.
CASC summer leadership conferences bring together students and advisors at a multi-day training conference held at University of California, Santa Barbara. In the past, summer conferences have been conducted at college campuses such as the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and Saint Mary's College of California. All of the curriculum is taught through hands-on activities in small groups led by high school and college students. Skills are taught in areas including.[3] [4] [5]
One-day workshops throughout the state focus on individual and group skill development. Working with trained high school and college students who serve as role models, students meet in small groups with peers from other local schools to practice meeting and presentation skills and to engage in collaborative problem solving exercises.[3] [4]
Students (sophomores and older) who have successfully completed the CASC basic high school summer leadership program become eligible to attend a three-day staff development program. Upon completing the training they may be recommended to serve as a trainer at any CASC conference. Additionally, selected college-age CASC trainers are invited to attend Advanced Skills Training. Trainers of trainers and international staff are selected from this group.[3] [4]
This two-day workshop focuses on the role of a Student Council/ASB, structure, selection and training of members, team-building techniques, evaluation of performance, coaching and feedback. Participants have an opportunity to share best practices as well as address current challenges.[3] [4]
This two-day program is focused on curriculum for training current and aspiring student leaders.Topics covered include: units of study, principles of design, integration of lessons with event planning, and grading. Participants develop skills in meeting planning and management, situational leadership, team development, and project planning. Time is allocated for exploring resources.[3] [4]
At this multi day conference, students from all over the state learn about education policy and have an opportunity to influence it. The SABE conference has been held annually since 1966. SABE proposals are presented to the State Board of Education. SABE is run by the Education Policy Director
Additionally, delegates at the SABE conference elect the top six of twelve candidates for the student position on the State Board of Education. These six are then sent to the State Board to be narrowed down the top three.[6]
High school and middle school students throughout California gather in Sacramento to discuss educational issues of common concern and prepare proposals for the Assembly Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee. SABLE is run by the Education Policy Director.[6]
Held during the school year, this multi-day conference for high school and middle school students attracts participants throughout the state. Participants are trained in skills including project planning, meeting skills, resolving conflict, lobbying, collaborating with adults, attracting media attention and surveying student opinion. Opportunities for action at school and in the community are explored in elective workshops. YASC is run by the YASC Director on the State Council
These one-day interactive workshops bring together serving and aspiring student board members together with adult board members and consultants. The program focuses on training in areas necessary for these students to serve effectively, including responsibilities and roles, best practices and techniques for surveying students.[7]
CASC designs full school leadership and personal development programs, differentiated instruction opportunities, conflict management training, meeting skills, workshops and team building for individual student councils, schools, districts, departments, and organizations. Custom Designed Programs are called Special Projects, and are run by the Special Projects Director.
(Taken from literature published by the California Association of Student Councils)