Many programs find that student leadership initiatives promote a vibrant, student-centered program culture, foster student persistence and retention, and create invaluable opportunities for students to be part of key, program-wide decisions and initiatives. 

This resource page includes a collection of tools and resources designed to support staff and programs in their work to develop a new student leadership initiative or strengthen existing opportunities. These resources were developed by the SABES Program Support team and based on the lessons learned and shared by Massachusetts adult education professionals.

• Student Leadership: Leveraging the Power of Student Voice is a SABES OnDemand course featuring the experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned by student leaders and their programs. Complete the course to gain inspiration and guidance for developing your own plan.

• The Student Leadership Action Plan Template is designed to help programs develop an effective, sustainable student leadership goal and action plan.
• The Student Leadership Body Planning Worksheet draws on lessons learned by Massachusetts programs to suggest key questions and considerations for programs to address as they develop a new student leadership council or body. 

Additional Resources: 

• The Change Agent is a publication written by and for adult learners exploring topics related to social justice and student advocacy. Issues #58 (“Finding Our Voices”), #59 (“We Take Action”), and #44 (“When We Fight, We Win”) are particularly relevant to student leadership and advocacy.*
• Student-to-Student Learning (Fall 2025 Issue of the SABES Newsletter) includes ideas, strategies, and resources for fostering peer learning. 
• Programs Succeed When Learners Lead (Spring 2023 Issue of the COABE Journal) includes articles and research from staff, programs, and learners from around the country 
• COABE Ambassador Program 
• ACLS Student Ambassador Program

*If you are a Massachusetts program, you can access The Change Agent using this login information:

• Username: massachusetts
• Password: changeagent