What We Do
Our Mission
We are young people co-creating more just, democratic Kentucky schools and communities as education research, policy, and storytelling partners.
Our Founding & Building a Solid Foundation
We spent a year researching and then pitching a proposal to the Prichard Committee to engage students as education advocacy partners, successfully developing a community and culture of support around it.
Amplifying Student Voice on Climate & College
We trained and supported students as school improvement partners, conducted school climate audits, listened to students about college affordability & access barriers, and published our first book of the findings & recommendations.
Mobilizing Around School Safety
Rallied students to advocate for more school counselors in the wake of school shootings in Marshall County, Kentucky & Parkland, Florida
Informing on Covid-19
We created the Coping with COVID-19 Student-to-Student Survey, which reached almost 10,000 students in all 120 counties during the early months of the pandemic and released a report, which was later published in a scientific journal.
Advancing Youth Agency
We became an independent youth-led nonprofit and successfully advocated for the permanent inclusion of student and teacher seats on the Kentucky Board of Education.
Democratizing Education Research & Reporting
We led a statewide study of students on race, ethnicity and belonging in school and launched The New Edu education journalism site.
Advocating for Quality Public Schools Statewide
Organized public town halls across the state, helped stop legislation that would have funneled public dollars to private schools and are leading a landmark student lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Kentucky
a few things we're proud of
Some of our Accomplishments
CHANGED LAWs
Made Kentucky colleges more affordable for 8,000 low-income students with our “Powerball Promise” campaign; blocked Amendment 2 private school vouchers; and protected student mental health & belonging
WROTE two BOOKs
Published stories from thousands of Kentucky students about college affordability in Ready Or Not: Stories From the Students Behind the Statistics and unpacked our Rose Lawsuit in Why Kentucky Students Are Suing the State
LAUNCHED News SITE
Launched the first youth-run education newsroom in Kentucky, The New Edu, centering student perspectives within Kentucky’s education system
made space
Advocated for the inclusion of student representatives on the Kentucky Board of Education, district school boards, and School Based Decision Making Councils
Leadership Team
Adult allies and students partner to support youth-led work as an intergenerational team.
Andrew Brennen
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Luisa Sanchez
Arivumani Srivastava
Donors & Supporters
*Donor list includes grants and contract partnerships that are active and funding work in the current 2025-26 Fiscal Year.
The Kentucky Student Voice Team is honored to be fiscally sponsored by the Blue Grass Community Foundation. We are grateful for the individuals and organizations who have supported our work, past and present.
Colorectal Surgical and Gastroenterology Associates
