Youth Take Center Stage in Oakland School Board Elections
Young Voters Make History in California
OAKLAND — Candidates seeking to lead the Oakland Unified School District faced a barrage of tough questions one recent evening — an interrogation led by an enthusiastic group of new voters suddenly endowed with political power: 16- and 17-year-old high school students.
A New Era of Student Involvement
In a first for California, teens in two Alameda County school districts, Berkeley and Oakland, were granted suffrage in school board races for the first time this November. About 1,000 Oakland students had registered as of October 22. To court their newest and youngest constituents, several Oakland candidates assembled before a packed auditorium in East Oakland for a grilling.
Student Questions and Expectations
The school board candidates tried to reassure the students, saying they were committed to improving safety, while also protecting students’ rights. The district’s newest voters listened carefully. In a district facing a massive budget crisis and often abysmal test scores, students also had questions about school funding, campus safety, mental health, and college and career preparation support.
Student Expectations
Many students said it was about time school board candidates played more heed to them.
"This is not the kids’ table anymore," Maximus Simmons, a junior at Oakland High, said. "This is the first time young people have had a real voice in school board elections in a major city. This is only the beginning."
The Push for Youth Suffrage
The push for youth suffrage is expanding to more cities. In the Bay Area, voters in Albany will vote on a measure to grant suffrage to 16- and 17-year-olds. In Southern California, Culver City voters narrowly defeated a similar measure in 2022, while San Francisco voters also shot down such measures in 2016 and 2020.
Student Voices Matter
At the candidates’ forum at Fremont High, school board candidates took notice of their newest constituency. Seven of the eight candidates running for four open seats in Oakland attended.
"I’m here to listen to all of you, because that is what you deserve," Ben Salop, 20, a 2022 graduate of Oakland Technical High School, told the students. "Let’s make Oakland a truly student-led district."
Conclusion
The Oakland Unified School District, which enrolls about 34,000 students, many of whom live in poverty, has been plagued by troubles in recent years. It faces a $95-million budget gap, shrinking enrollment, and has closed campuses amid allegations that it is failing students. It has also struggled with low test scores, particularly among Black and Latino students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of youth suffrage in school board elections?
A: To give 16- and 17-year-old students a voice in school board races and allow them to vote in local elections.
Q: Which cities have allowed youth suffrage in school board elections?
A: Berkeley and Oakland, California, have granted suffrage to 16- and 17-year-olds in school board races.
Q: How do students feel about the new voting rights?
A: Many students are excited and motivated to have a say in school board elections, feeling that their voices will be heard and that they have more power in shaping their education.
