SPB Sponsor:
SPB Sponsors refine process guidelines, adapt the timeline, prepare for implementation, and assemble a steering committee - a team of students that will lead the process among their peers. SPB Sponsors recruit and manage a steering committee (a team of students and teachers). The steering committee decides on its committee name, develops process goals and parameters for ideas, and plans to engage the broader student body in each phase of the process.
Establish Guidelines for the Process
Before kicking off, SPB Sponsors learn about their role in the SPB process, explore available resources, and plan for process implementation for the year ahead. To design key guidelines for the process, consider questions such as:
- How can SPB Sponsors select a diverse group of students to participate on the steering committee?
- How many people can serve on the Steering Committee?
- Who can submit ideas?
- Who will vote to implement projects?
- What can and cannot be purchased with SPB money? What types of projects do we want to fund (i.e., capital infrastructure, services, programs)?
For additional support planning your process, see the SPB Support section.
Assemble a Steering Committee
A steering committee is a group of students that will guide the SPB process from “Idea Collection” to “Implementation.” With the guidance of the SPB Sponsor, they will:
- Gather ideas from fellow students
- Group and prioritize ideas
- Develop project proposals
- Lead campaign and deliberation efforts
- Coordinate a school-wide vote
- Support project implementation with SPB Sponsors
Tips for Assembling a Steering Committee:
SPB Sponsors assemble a steering committee on campus with the help of SPB Coordinators, Advisors, and school and district leaders. Here are a few tips for creating your campus steering committee:
- Recruit steering committee members from every grade level.
- Recruit a diverse group of students (i.e., a variety of cultures, learning abilities, language backgrounds, etc.).
- Focus on engaging students who may not be involved with other clubs or activities.
- Use the SPB Video when first introducing the concept to potential steering committee students.
- Consider SPB participation as a fulfillment of any community service requirements.
- Gather help from veteran and well-known teachers.
For general information on the SPB process:
For materials and resources on designing the SPB process:
- SPB Toolkit for Inclusive Practice
- Steering Committee Design and Recruitment
- SPB AZHSS Standards Map
- SPB Parent Guardian Outreach Example
Social Studies lessons and activities to support learning during the SPB process:
- SPB Design the Process_Our Living Constitution (K-8)
- SPB Design the Process_History and Expansion (4-8)
- SPB Design the Process_Is it Ever Too Late to Change (9-12)
- SPB Design the Process_What Makes a Good Leader Lesson Plan (K-3)
- SPB Design the Process_US Constitution PT.1 (4-8)
- SPB Design the Process_US Constitution PT.2 (4-8)
- SPB Design the Process_What we Can Learn (6-12)