October 2, 2026 – State School Superintendent Richard Woods has selected 84 Georgia students from 1,427 applicants to serve on his 2026-2027 Student Advisory Council. Throughout the school year, council members will meet with Superintendent Woods to share their experiences, discuss education-related issues, and provide feedback on how state policies affect students.

“Students can tell us firsthand how the decisions we make affect their learning and their plans for the future,” Superintendent Woods said. “Their feedback helps us understand where we are making progress and where we need to do more. I look forward to getting to know this year’s council members, hearing their ideas, and working together to strengthen educational opportunities across Georgia.”

Council members will also serve as ambassadors for the Superintendent and complete service projects benefiting their schools and communities. These projects give students opportunities to put their ideas into action, develop leadership skills, and address needs they see around them.

Students in grades 10-12 were invited to apply and share their answers to two short essay questions inviting them to reflect on challenges in education, share experiences that shaped their perspectives, identify issues they would like to discuss with the Superintendent, and propose a service project.

The council represents students from across Georgia’s Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) regions, bringing perspectives from rural, suburban, and urban communities. Members are selected based on the strength of their application responses and the goal of ensuring representation from across the state. Multiple students from a school district may be selected.

The first 2026-2027 Student Advisory Council meeting will be held this month at the Georgia Department of Education’s offices in Atlanta. Selected students will receive meeting details via email.