What is MASC?

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Maryland Association of Student Councils

The Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) is an organization of public and private secondary school student councils in the state of Maryland. Students are not only the leaders of the future but the leaders of today and defend as well as promote the interests, rights, and well-being of all students in the state of Maryland.

As an organization, we strive to accomplish three things:

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Leadership Development

We hold various conferences for students throughout the year where trained student leaders facilitate workshops written by students for students. We also participate in initiatives and services pertinent to youth.

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Student Advocacy

We communicate with the Maryland General Assembly and various interest groups advocating for student rights. Importantly, we nominate two students—one appointed by the Governor to serve as a voting member on the State Board of Education—four to serve on the Maryland Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC), and one to serve on the Maryland Center for School Safety’s Advisory to the Subcabinet (Safe Schools Act of 2018).

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Promote Communication

Student leaders around the state unite under MASC through regional networks. These networks connect middle and high schools, allowing students to share ideas and collaborate as a general assembly to take stances on issues.

What Does MASC Do?

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The Mission of MASC

The mission of MASC is to foster a statewide environment for all secondary school students to express and exchange opinions and ideas, develop leadership skills, and promote student representation and involvement in all groups and organizations impacting the lives of students.

Goals and Objectives

I. Communication

A. To facilitate effective communication among MASC elected officers, Executive Board, regions, member schools, and groups impacting students.

  1. Distribute a monthly newsletter with MASC updates
  2. Maintain and update the MASC website
  3. Hold quarterly Executive Board meetings with regional representation
  4. Allow member schools to provide feedback on MASC activities
  5. Serve as liaison between the State Board of Education and Maryland students
  6. Provide student liaisons to statewide task forces and committees

B. Create a statewide network of student leaders.

C. Promote a positive image of Maryland students through ongoing communication and media engagement.

II. Leadership Development

  1. Provide leadership opportunities at MASC conferences and Executive Board meetings
  2. Offer workshops that empower students to strengthen their councils
  3. Expand partnership with the Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW)
  4. Provide schools with resources to enhance their own organizations
  5. Encourage improvement through awards and recognition

III. Representation and Involvement

  1. Promote representation and involvement of all secondary schools and regions
  2. Increase inclusion from underrepresented areas
  3. Represent student viewpoints to policymakers
  4. Advocate for student positions before state decision-making bodies
  5. Provide schools opportunities for input on the Constitution, MASC platform, and policies