The Ohio Youth Agenda is a collaboration of Youth Voices and the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign. Through this project students from across the state have come together to share their life experiences, learn more about how public policy affects their lives and advocate for the Youth Agenda they have formulated.

On Dec 4, 2007, students from across the state met in Columbus to revise the 2007 Ohio Youth Agenda. Jonathan Lykes, a youth organizer with the project and Michael Charney, Director of the project each wrote a report, offering their own unique perspectives of the event. Click here to read about the 2008 Ohio Youth Agenda and to see photos from the event. Teachers or students who are interested in getting involved with the Ohio Youth Agenda are encouraged to contact Michael Charney, by phone 216-548-4059, or e-mail mailto:michaelctu@aol.com

In 2007, The Youth Agenda members created a state wide newspaper, participated in press conferences, testified before the General Assembly, and met with members of the Governor's staff and with Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland. To learn more, click on the links below to see photos and watch a few videos of the students in action. You can also read their testimony and news articles about how they are promoting their agenda.

> April 24- Urban-Rural Exchange between Brookhaven and Warren High
> April 17- Public School Press Conference
> April 14- Youth Summit II
> April 10-12 Testifying to House Education subcommittee on HB 119
> April 9- Budget training
> April 3- Meet with Dr. John Standford from the Governor's office
> April 3- Urban-Rural Exchange between Meigs High and East High on Arcadia
> March 15- Present Youth Agenda to Ohio's First Lady Frances Strickland -Includes a short video
> March 10- Planning session and presentation to the board of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign
> Feb 3- Youth Summit I -Includes a short video of the event

Students from Warren High School in Washington County and Brookhaven High School in Columbus visited each others' schools for the day. During the exchange the students attended class and participated in an open forum to discuss their impressions of the differences and commonalities among urban and rural schools in Ohio.

"These exchanges are a great opportunity for students who care about their fellow students to get out there and actually see the different environments students learn in. Most students can talk about the problems they face in their own schools, whether it be funding or otherwise, but when they get to visit another school it opens up another dimension." said Ohio Fair Schools Campaign Organizer Kyle Smiddie about the exchange. To read a related article, visit: 5/2 Northland News Brookhaven swaps students, stories with SE Ohio school

> April 10-12 Testifying to Education subcommittee

To read related articles, visit: 4/18 Times Bulletin Local students utilize power of the press 4/14 The Cleveland Plain Dealer High school youths push to get money for schools 4/12 Cleveland Plain Dealer Government class coming to life The Columbus Dispatch As a group, youths plan to conquer obstacles

Urban and rural public school students from across the state have been actively involved in the budget debate at the Statehouse. In April students came to testify on the education part of the budget before the House Primary and Secondary Education subcommittee In addition to visiting Columbus, students have also held press conferences across the state to announce a new student led newspaper called The Young Ohioan. The newspaper was given to lawmakers in Columbus and is being distributed to students around the state.

Urban and rural high school students from across Ohio gathered in Columbus and produced The Ohio Youth Agenda for their economic and educational success. They responded to the question, "What can the Ohio government do to make sure that you and your classmates achieve educational and economic success in the next five years?" Through small group discussion and debate, The Ohio Youth Agenda was born.

Please take a few minutes to watch a short video about The Ohio Youth Agenda and then send an e-mail to Governor Strickland's education Policy Advisor.

THE OHIO YOUTH AGENDA
-a message from young Ohioans

Hoping to make positive social and political changes in our lives, we present our agenda:

We need a full curriculum that includes high level academic courses, opportunities for vocational education, art, music and computer access at home and school. That curriculum should be taught in classes no larger than 25 in a class.

We need real world classes, basic financial skills and internships that connect education to careers.

We need an accountability system that measures progress and doesn't base graduation on the results of just a test. Classes should be offered during the school day that support tutoring based on learning both the content and test taking skills, instead of having students repeat courses with first year high school students.

We need plans to prevent drop-outs that includes peer counseling, smaller classes, individual tutoring.

We need school counselors that help with social and mental health problems, not just scheduling of classes.

We need better access and knowledge for college that will include counselors providing specific information about applications and scholarships, an equal number of college recruiters compared to the military, and reduced tuition at college to make it affordable for more students.

We need youth centers with peer leaders to provide after school opportunities and actively prevent violence and pregnancy. We need to make weapons less attainable to ensure our safety.

We need to enforce or change the state ratio so that all students have regular access to nurses in schools and all Ohioans need adequate medical insurance for healthy lifestyles.

And to make all this happen we need a school funding system that does not rest on passing school levies and increasing property taxes.