California Association of Student Councils
Student Led • 501(c)(3) Nonprofit • Est. 1947 by the California Department of Education
Our Story
With CASC, you will discover opportunities for youth to develop skills essential for effective leadership and management. Workshops and conferences held annually throughout the State of California provide training in:
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making effective presentations, facilitating meetings
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planning projects
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resolving conflict, working as a team
Students work in groups led by a trained high school or college students to practice skills and to reflect on their experiences.CASC provides opportunities for youth to impact policy at the district and state levels. Numerous bills have been introduced in the state legislature as a result of student proposals. We have conducted programs and retreats for ASBs, entire classes, youth advisory councils in cities, and entire student bodies. At one school, CASC curriculum is taught in every classroom several times each week by students enrolled in the leadership class! No idea is too big to be explored! We are here to help you develop the programs of your dreams.
– Dr. June Thompson, Former CASC Executive Director
Purpose
The purpose of the California Association of Student Councils is to improve the quality of life in the world by developing skilled, ethical, and sensitive leaders of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Values
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The power of youth to change the world
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Acceptance of all people
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Respect
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Empowerment and encouragement of youth
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Integrity
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The belief that people can continuously develop and change
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The power of the individual
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The ripple effect
Our Mission
The mission of the California Association of Student Councils is to provide leadership development for elementary, middle, and high school students and their advisors in California and across the world through peer training. Our programs emphasize authenticity, ethics, and collaborative decision-making which enhance learning outside of the classroom by fostering self-esteem and civic engagement. CASC advocates for the youth, provides an avenue for the expression on student views and empowers young people.
The California Association of Student Councils (hereafter abbreviated to CASC) is committed to ensuring that CASC fosters an environment without discrimination or harassment based on race, age, ethnicity, religion, documentation status, sex, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, marriage status, socioeconomic background, or pregnancy.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
The Numbers
250,000+
elementary, middle, and high school students trained in leadership and life skills over 70 years by CASC.
$64,000+
was distributed in scholarships in 2023-2024 alone by CASC.
11
pieces of legislation introduced by CASC student leaders have been signed into law since 2012.
12
countries introduced to CASC curriculum, including China, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, the UK, and Croatia.
100%
of alumni surveyed stated that involvement in CASC influenced their success as a leader.
95%
stated that CASC had a greater influence on them than any other organization.
88%
stated that CASC involvement influenced their professional accomplishments.
100%
of State Council members earn degrees at 4-year colleges.
500+
students placed on school accreditation teams.
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Partner with Us
INTERNATIONAL
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In 1987, CASC student leaders worked with Russian and Finnish counterparts to develop the Agenda for the 21st Century. The document was presented directly to Presidents Gorbachev and Reagan and led to the first exchange program between the US and the Soviet Union.
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In 1992, CASC training and support led to the founding of the Association of Young Leaders (AYL), the third non-profit organization formed in the Newly Independent Russian States.
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CASC youth staffed three Global Youth Conferences at the 1992 Earth Summit and the 1995 and 1996 State of the World Forums.
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In 2004 CASC and AYL trained Japanese youth to serve as facilitators for an environmental forum in Aomori, Japan.
NATIONAL
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CASC youth leaders staffed the 1992 Earth Train project which conducted environmental forums in Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago, and met with UN and Congressional leaders.
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In 1995, the Corporation for National Service selected CASC as one of three organization to collaborate in designing and conducting training for national service executives.
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CASC leaders served as facilitators and recorders for small group sessions at the 2002 Family Re-Union Conference sponsored by Al and Tipper Gore at Vanderbilt University.
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Executive Director, June Thompson, serves as the Architect for Leadership Development for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. CASC trainers are currently working with staff, board, and members to augment their leadership skills.
SCHOOLS
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In 1996, CASC facilitated the establishment of Westside Leadership Magnet School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Currently, student leaders conduct classroom lessons in leadership three times a week for primary and elementary schools.
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CASC trains peer mentors for the summer enrichment program for “at-risk” entering ninth graders in the Compass Program at Menlo-Atherton High School. The program serves as a catalyst for the development of class, club, and ASB leaders.
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CASC designed a special workshop for Gifted and Talented Students in the Mountain-View Wishman Elementary District and the Mt. Diablo School District.
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Over a four-year period, CASC conducted training for classes, the staff, the entire student body at Menlo-Atherton High School. The result was a more unified and respectful student population.
CASC HISTORY
NATIONAL
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CASC youth leaders staffed the 1992 Earth Train project which conducted environmental forums in Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago, and met with UN and Congressional leaders.
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In 1995, the Corporation for National Service selected CASC as one of three organization to collaborate in designing and conducting training for national service executives.
-
CASC leaders served as facilitators and recorders for small group sessions at the 2002 Family Re-Union Conference sponsored by Al and Tipper Gore at Vanderbilt University.
-
Executive Director, June Thompson, serves as the Architect for Leadership Development for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. CASC trainers are currently working with staff, board, and members to augment their leadership skills.
INTERNATIONAL
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In 1987, CASC student leaders worked with Russian and Finnish counterparts to develop the Agenda for the 21st Century. The document was presented directly to Presidents Gorbachev and Reagan and led to the first exchange program between the US and the Soviet Union.
-
In 1992, CASC training and support led to the founding of the Association of Young Leaders (AYL), the third non-profit organization formed in the Newly Independent Russian States.
-
CASC youth staffed three Global Youth Conferences at the 1992 Earth Summit and the 1995 and 1996 State of the World Forums.
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In 2004 CASC and AYL trained Japanese youth to serve as facilitators for an environmental forum in Aomori, Japan.
SCHOOLS
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In 1996, CASC facilitated the establishment of Westside Leadership Magnet School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Currently, student leaders conduct classroom lessons in leadership three times a week for primary and elementary schools.
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CASC trains peer mentors for the summer enrichment program for “at-risk” entering ninth graders in the Compass Program at Menlo-Atherton High School. The program serves as a catalyst for the development of class, club, and ASB leaders.
-
CASC designed a special workshop for Gifted and Talented Students in the Mountain-View Wishman Elementary District and the Mt. Diablo School District.
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Over a four-year period, CASC conducted training for classes, the staff, the entire student body at Menlo-Atherton High School. The result was a more unified and respectful student population.
HONORS
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Selected as a model self-esteem program by the California Task Force on Self-Esteem
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Selected as a model youth program by the International Youth Foundation
CASC China Leader in Uganda
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
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CASC provided small group facilitators for the Educational Planning Forum for the Sequoia Union High School District. Meeting skills training was also provided for parent groups.
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CASC designed leadership lessons and trained staff for Sacramento START, which conducts after-school programs in 40 low-income elementary schools.
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Legislation
CASC is a statewide advocate for youth. The Government Affairs Program Director on State Council serves as a lobbyist in Sacramento, working with legislators and other policymakers to support and draft education-related legislation.
CASC supports such legislation by organizing letter-writing drives and other methods to reach out to students and adult stakeholders in education for support.
All positions and ideas for legislation are created by students at the Student Advisory Board on Education (SABE) and the Student Advisory Board on Legislation in Education (SABLE). At these conferences, delegates create formal proposals which they present to State Board of Education and the State Legislature. After the conferences, the Government Affairs Program Director follows up with the policymakers and coordinates students statewide to provide support.
In order to know how best to support California’s students, CASC needs to hear from the students themselves! Please encourage your schools to take the time to share their experiences in the California Student Perspective Survey.
Achievements
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Over the past 75 years, CASC has trained over 250,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in leadership and life skills.
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Since 2012, six pieces of legislation introduced by CASC student leaders have been signed into law.
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Placed over 500 students on school accreditation teams.
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Secured a student voting position on the California State Board of Education.
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Introduced CASC curriculum in eight countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Armenia, and Croatia.
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As a result of its success in youth leadership and development, the California Task Force on Self-Esteem honored CASC as a model self-esteem program, and the International Youth Foundation selected CASC as a model youth program.
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In 2017 alone, CASC distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships to participants in need.
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CASC could not provide outstanding education and social experiences to more than 2,000 youth annually without the commitment of dozens of volunteers who serve as youth advisors and contribute thousands of hours to ensure the success of each of our programs.
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Documented statistically significant increase in delegate self-esteem and perception of self as a leader.
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One-hundred-percent of State Council members earn degrees at 4-year colleges.
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Placed student members on legislative committees for the Association of School Administrators and the California School Board Association.
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One-hundred-percent of alumni surveyed stated that involvement in CASC influenced their success as a leader. Ninety-five-percent stated that CASC had a greater influence on them than any other organization. Eighty-eight-percent stated that CASC involvement influenced their professional accomplishments.
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Alumni serve(d) as CEO's, COO's, and CFO's of start-ups, executives at nonprofits, officials in the U.S. State Department, U.S. Treasury Department, professors, attorneys, physicians, school administrators, business consultants, professional speakers, engineers, and film producers. Prominent CASC alumni include:
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Wally Adeyemo, Former Assistant Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of the Treasury
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Laurel Miller, Former envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, U.S. State Department
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Joe Simitian, Former State Senator and current Supervisor in the Santa Clara County
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Mike Walsh, 2017-2018 President of the California School Boards Association and board member in the Butte County Office of Education
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Derek Yung, CFO Hotwire
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Achievements
Achievements
Thirst Project
Association of California School Administrators
ACS WASC
Childrennow
Thirst Project
Association of California School Administrators
ACS WASC
Childrennow
California Department of Education
