Interested Chicago Public Schools’ rising juniors and seniors can now apply to garner a seat on the District’s top governing Board for the 2026-27 school year.  Each year, one student is chosen to represent the interests and perspectives of all CPS students on the Chicago Board of Education, which approves operational and academic policies and decisions impacting the District’s more than 315,000 students. The application process for the one-year honorary student board member term opened and remains open until 5 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2026.  All rising 11th or 12th-grade CPS students are encouraged to apply to serve for the 2026-27 school year by visiting cps.edu/HSBMapplication. To be eligible, a student must maintain a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate proven leadership experience.  If selected, the honorary student board member will:

• represent the CPS student body at the Chicago Board of Education’s monthly meetings;

• serve as an appointed member on a District-level student committee; and

• receive a $1,000 scholarship towards their education at a two- or four-year college or university