Prince George's County students bring voices to Annapolis at Advocacy Day

Students from Prince George's County Public Schools traveled to Annapolis for PGCBS Advocacy Day to learn about the legislative process and to tell state lawmakers how district policies affect their daily classroom experience, organizers and participants said.

The event, now in its second year, brought students from across the district to the State House to meet elected officials and observe how bills move through the legislature. A district presenter described the program as a priority for district leadership, saying: "Advocacy Day is extremely important to the superintendent and I because we are really focused on elevating student voice and making sure their voice is heard." The presenter said the day was meant to put that promise into action by letting students represent the district "strong and proud."

Several students opened remarks by name: "Hi, I'm Mia," "Hi, I'm Blessing," and "Hi, I'm Miracle." One student reflecting on the visit said it was their second trip to the State House and that they had learned more about the executive and legislative branches. That student added that meeting County Executive Aisha Brave Boy and "sharing that connection with her was very inspiring to me." Another student described the trip as an introduction to civic work and said, "for me particularly, I want to become a lobbyist later on in life."

Organizers framed the visit as both an educational opportunity and a chance for students to speak directly to delegates and senators about how school policies affect instruction and student life. There were no formal votes or motions recorded in the transcript. The district said this is the program's second year and intends to continue providing students with opportunities to learn about state government and meet elected officials.