Developing a Youth Issues Agenda
For Teachers & AdministratorsDEveloping a Youth Issues Agenda
A step-by-step Guide For Teachers
Let’s get started.
Identifying Needs
First, help students identify the needs & issues they would like to address.
- Help students through the process of identify their needs on local, community, state, national and international levels.
- Have students brainstorm and discuss what issues are related to their needs at each level.
- Have students deliberate about how to articulate an issues agenda—what should be prioritized and why, how do they build coalitions to ensure their issues are addressed, etc.
Submit Your Agenda
Have students identify their consensus agenda of 1-7 issues (they can briefly explain them or provide bullets to give more detail about each issue if they so choose).
NDR Model
Check out this NDR model to help students with needs identification and more from our partners.
Step By Step Instructions
Project Citizen is anchored in student voice, public policy knowledge, and advocacy. Click the link below for their step-by-step guide.
Student Participation
Have students do some research on these issues; take a look at where elected officials stand on these issues; consider if their issues are even being addressed.
Interested in a guide to Building Community & Coalitions for Public Action? Click here for a free guide from the Center for the Study of Citizenship at Wayne State University.
Free Guide to Building Community & Coalitions for Public Action
Step #1
Identifying Needs
First, help students identify the needs & issues they would like to address.
- Help students through the process of identify their needs on local, community, state, national and international levels.
- Have students brainstorm and discuss what issues are related to their needs at each level.
- Have students deliberate about how to articulate an issues agenda—what should be prioritized and why, how do they build coalitions to ensure their issues are addressed, etc.
NDR Model
Check out this NDR model to help students with needs identification and more from our partners.
Step By Step Instructions
Project Citizen is anchored in student voice, public policy knowledge, and advocacy. Click the link below for their step-by-step guide.
Visit Their Website
Free Guide to Building Community & Coalitions for Public Action
Step #2
Student Participation
Have students do some research on these issues; take a look at where elected officials stand on these issues; consider if their issues are even being addressed.
Step #3 – Submit Your Agenda
Have students identify their consensus agenda of 1-7 issues (they can briefly explain them or provide bullets to give more detail about each issue if they so choose).
Click Here to Submit Your Agenda
Other Do It Yourself Resources for Teachers
Teacher-Led Activities for Students
Common Ground for Action
The Common Ground for Action online forums allow you to exchange views with others about important issues in the country.
Video for Discussion
Check out the video below on the importance of student voice to inspire and start conversations in your classroom.
Our Partners
