Empowering Student Voices: One Student’s Advocacy for Health and Safe Routes to School

In the Upper Merion Area School District (UMASD), a middle school student has emerged as a powerful example of youth leadership—championing health, safety, and student voice in local decision-making. Over the past three years, she has persistently worked to align district practices with its Wellness Policy and Pennsylvania state law, especially concerning biking and walking access to school.

Her advocacy reminds us that student voices are not only valid—they are vital for meaningful change.

Health, Safety, and the Courage to Speak Up

This student began her journey three years ago by initiating conversations about the school’s wellness policy. Over time, her efforts expanded beyond the school walls. She met with township officials and police, proposed age-appropriate programs such as walking school buses and student safety patrols, and researched how other districts promote Safe Routes to School (SRTS). Her proposals were grounded in best practices and aligned with both PA Title 24 P.S. § 5-510 and UMASD’s own 2019 Wellness Policy. She also attended school board meetings to publicly support health and safety improvements.

Despite the thoughtful, policy-aligned nature of her advocacy, she encountered resistance. Some officials who initially supported her were later discouraged from engaging. What began as a collaborative effort evolved into a clear example of how even constructive student leadership can be stifled when inconvenient.

Local nonprofit Healthy Community Lifespaces encourages student innovation and advocacy. With their support, this student’s efforts reflect the very spirit of civic engagement that schools should be fostering.

The Larger Message: Health and Equity

This issue is about more than a bike path or a walking school bus—it’s about the values our schools choose to model: wellness, equity, and civic responsibility.

Important questions remain unanswered. If the district used public funds to build a bike path on school grounds, why are students still prohibited from biking—even with helmets and along designated safe routes? Denying access to publicly funded health-promoting infrastructure contradicts both the district’s stated wellness goals and its responsibility to ensure equity.

Not all families have access to personal vehicles or live near bus stops. Biking is not only healthy; for many, it is necessary. Upholding outdated prohibitions while maintaining facilities intended for student use creates mixed messages and disproportionately impacts students with fewer transportation options.

Why Student Advocacy Matters

This student’s commitment to promoting health and sustainability reflects what schools should celebrate: critical thinking, civic engagement, and leadership. Rather than viewing student input as disruptive, school systems should embrace and support it.

Safe Routes to School programs have been shown to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, and increase daily physical activity. When a student advocates for health, wellness and sustainable programs—not just for her own benefit, but for her peers—she is upholding the very principles that schools claim to value.

An Opportunity for the District

Following continued inaction, a formal complaint has now been submitted under UMASD Board Policy 906. This step is not about conflict, but clarity. The complaint requests recognition of student advocacy and the formation of a Safe Routes to School advisory group that includes student representation.

This is a pivotal moment for UMASD. The district can choose to listen, respond, and set a new standard for student-centered policy. By doing so, it will show that student voices matter—and that collaboration and wellness are more than just words on paper.

By listening to students—not just hearing them—we build stronger schools and healthier communities. Supporting this student’s leadership is not just the right thing to do; it is what will move us all forward.

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