Adults love to make rules about teens, without actually listening to teens.
Whether it’s about dress codes, mental health resources, or city curfews, teenagers are the ones who are living through these policies every day. Yet decisions are often made in rooms where no young people are present.
It is frustrating when parents view these policies as “for our own good” but don’t bother to ask us how they actually affect us. And while it can feel like teens have no influence, that isn’t wholly true. Across Metro Atlanta, there are real ways for teens to get involved and speak up about policies that directly impact their daily lives.
This should matter most to us because we experience these policies more than anyone else. We’re the ones dealing with a lack of mental health support or completely outdated dress codes; it would only make sense for teens to have a say.
I have learned this firsthand, serving on my own county’s Youth Advisory Council. Being present in those meetings with county officials truly helped me understand what goes into creating these policies and what is put in place to enforce them. It has also made me realize that many decision-makers want more student input. The National League of Cities highlights that one day we will be the ones responsible for advancing the city, which is why it is critical to build pipelines and pathways for the next generation of city leaders. As important as it is for youth to get more involved in policy, many teens don’t realize these opportunities even exist. Here are five ways Metro Atlanta teens can make an impact today.
Join (or start) a Youth Advisory Council.
Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) are groups of high school–aged youth who advise organizations on decisions that impact young people. There are currently active YACs in Rockdale, Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb, and many surrounding counties. This is an opportunity for teens to advise elected officials on issues affecting schools in their counties, including education, transportation, and mental health programs. You have the freedom to discuss any issue or flaw you see or experience in current school systems, which helps county officials gain better insight into the policies they put in place for students.
National research from Youth.Gov, the resource for federal youth engagement, found that YACs “increase the likelihood that the decisions will be accepted, adopted, and become part of their everyday lives, having a greater impact.”
Cheire Allen, an educator at the Rockdale Career Academy, says, “I definitely think youth should start seeking out these opportunities more because it’s right there. They just need to look for them.” Going on to say, “I love all the resources that this school provides its students and how dedicated they are to trying to work towards making changes for them.”
Speak at School Board Meetings
Most teens don’t actually realize that students are absolutely allowed to attend and speak at school board meetings during public comment sessions. Officials attending these school board meetings are likely those who have direct influence on almost every policy created within schools. The state also requires Georgia school boards to host public comment periods. Groups like the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) are established to assist local school boards and individual board members in becoming informed about education trends, problems, and needs. The GSBA consists of 14 regions across Georgia, and often offers opportunities for youth to get involved with the school board through its program.
“I honestly didn’t even know advisory councils like these existed, where actual students can have a place to talk about their ideas and perspectives, ” says Elliot Shin, a student at Centennial High School and a current member of Student Leadership North. “Through Student Leadership North, I talk to other students from neighboring counties like Roswell, Johns Creek, and Alpharetta about different policies within their schools. I personally think it’s a really beneficial experience.”
Join a Student Government Committee at Your School
Most high schools already have committees designated to voice youth opinions within the school. These include: School Ambassadors, Student Government Association, or Student Council.
Research by the Pacific Regional Educational Laboratory shows that when student voices are incorporated into school governance, policies become much more effective, and educators gain a deeper understanding of their students’ cultures, economic circumstances, and geographic contexts, enabling them to serve them better.
There is a clear disconnect between adults’ assumptions and teens’ lived reality. These committees bridge that gap by allowing students to not only speak for themselves but also for their entire school community.
One student at the Rockdale Career Academy, 17-year-old Elissa Anderson, has already begun working towards that change.
“I’m a part of my school’s Ambassador program,” she says, “So I’m able to give tours and just help promote our career academy.” I was also recommended to join my county’s advisory council solely because I was an ambassador, so I think it’s a really unique opportunity that they give the students here.”
She goes on to explain the numerous different topics she has discussed with board members, students, and even school administrators, ranging from school dress codes to county absenteeism.
Contact Your Board of Education Members (BOE)
Every county has its elected Board of Education members, who make major decisions about school budgets, calendars, graduation requirements, curricula, staffing, and many other aspects related to the behind-the-scenes work of monitoring a school.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, gathering community feedback is a critical part of policy development, and they even provide a public comment forum for all Georgians to share input on K-12 education policies in the state.
Most Board of Education members want direct feedback from students because it helps them understand how their policies are playing out in classrooms.
You can reach out by finding their contact, emailing your BOE representative with your concerns or feedback, or by gathering students’ input and sending it as a collective message.
Seeking Non-profit Organizations Focused on Policy Changes
Teens can also get involved by seeking out nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to youth civic engagement and policymaking. Across Metro Atlanta, several groups are working to amplify youth voices, among the most notable and recent being the Youth Policy Exchange (YPE), founded by Georgia State Representative Imani Barnes.
Barnes launched the nonprofit in April 2025, with the explicit intent to give Georgia teens an opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers and provide personal insights on new legislation. The idea came from her conversation with students who felt unheard in traditional political spaces. In an interview with The Southerner, an open-forum newspaper published by student journalists at Midtown High School, Barnes explained how YPE started: “I just started Youth Policy Exchange from sitting down with teenagers and hearing their ideas,” Barnes said. “Adults are drafting policies for teenagers, but we are not getting the teenagers’ point of view… We will draft policies over the summer and turn them into elected officials, so we can better draft policies that fit you all.”
This is one of many non-profits across metro Atlanta where teens can voice their opinions. There are also organizations such as the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition (GYJC), Generation Citizen, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
