West Chester, PA (May 2, 2024) – Eight high school students from the West Chester Area (WCASD) and Tredyffrin-Easttown (TESD) School Districts recently had the chance to present their ideas for new state laws to state Senator Carolyn Comitta and her team.
The students, all rising high school seniors, were part of Comitta’s second annual Student Advisory Council, a program that aims to engage young people in civics and state government, teach them about the role of state legislators, and give them the chance to share their perspectives on community concerns.
“We want to offer our students an experience that is more than a typical internship program. The Student Advisory Council aims to do just that and has been a rewarding experience for myself, my staff, and the students,” Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee, said. “As a former public school teacher, I’ve always enjoyed interacting with young people. Discussing their views and perspectives was refreshing, eye-opening, and inspiring.”
For nearly three months, the Student Advisory Council met twice weekly to learn about the legislative process, get hands-on experience working with the various aspects of a Senate office, and participate in a service project in the local community. The students created a weekly staff e-newsletter, volunteered at the West Chester Food Cupboard, and learned about local government from a leading municipal solicitor.
The program culminated with each student researching and crafting a policy proposal that they presented to Comitta and her staff, either proposing a legislative bill of their creation or an amendment to an existing bill. Students’ proposals included:
- Sophie Rivell, WCASD – Amending current legislation to provide free access to feminine hygiene products in schools and offering education on period poverty and menstruation.
- Nathan Han, TESD – Improving access to trauma-informed substance use disorder, homelessness, and mental health services via a grant program.
- Elena Patarcity, WCASD – Lowering the voting age in local school board elections to include 16 and 17-year-olds, considering they are part of the population directly impacted by school board decisions and policy.
- Macie Burt, WCASD – Legislation to expand the right to an abortion without parental consent to 16-year-olds.
- Ayan Kumar, TESD – Requiring that all Pennsylvania public schools check lead levels in their water semi-annually if the school facility is undergoing renovations or was built before 1978.
- Talia Salome, WCASD – Legislation dedicated to research on artificial intelligence and how it impacts education.
- Neela Bender, WCASD – Improving access to treatment for substance use disorder in rural communities with a specific focus on harm reduction.
- Caitlyn Rodrigues, WCASD – Helping health care providers reduce gender bias in diagnosis and treatment through a grant program to support training.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders,” Comitta said. “I am incredibly proud of this year’s Student Advisory Council and my team and I thank them for their work and contributions to our office.”