In San Antonio, the youth are not just the future; they are active participants in shaping their present. Facing challenges such as declining school enrollment, budget cuts, and immigration-related fears, young people are stepping up to propose actionable solutions. National data from CIRCLE at Tufts University reveals that only 40% of young people feel prepared to engage in civic life, highlighting the urgent need for tools and support.

Through the UP Leaders of Tomorrow fellowship, 20 youth leaders from across San Antonio have spent months identifying community issues, analyzing root causes, and developing practical solutions. Their work aligns with UP Partnership’s Future Ready Plan, which aims to grow public investments in youth aged 0-24 through strategic partnerships. By centering youth voice in policy and advocacy, they aim to unlock an additional $330 million in public funding for Bexar County by 2030.

These recommendations are not mere wish lists but grounded policy proposals ready for immediate action by school board members, city, and county leaders. They are based on lived experiences, local data, and a sense of urgency.

Supporting Youth Mental Health Through Creative Expression

The City of San Antonio’s 2026 Teen Mental Health Survey identified school as a top stressor for teens. However, elective courses in arts, wellness, and creative expression are often the first to be cut when budgets tighten. These courses are not extras; they are essential spaces where students can breathe, create, and build a sense of self.

Youth leaders call on local school boards to develop solutions that continue funding for these elective courses. As districts make difficult decisions about restructuring, this is an opportunity to reimagine education in a way that supports, not strains, student wellbeing.

Bringing College & Career Access into Every Neighborhood

For many students, college and career planning resources feel out of reach. While San Antonio has valuable assets like cafécollege, access remains a barrier for students juggling transportation challenges, jobs, and family responsibilities. Youth leaders propose creating college and career readiness centers across San Antonio and Bexar County in partnership with school districts.

This could involve launching a pilot program establishing centers in at least three high-need communities, using existing schools or underused community spaces. With school closures leaving buildings empty, these spaces can be transformed into reinvested community hubs, making college feel real and achievable.

Ensuring Every Student Knows Their Rights

Immigration enforcement activity has contributed to rising absenteeism, mid-year withdrawals, and students staying home out of fear. Entire families are making decisions based on uncertainty about their rights, affecting school attendance, student mental health, and community stability.

Youth leaders call on school districts to implement annual Know Your Rights training for all middle and high school students. This training should be delivered in partnership with community organizations and integrated into existing student support programming, just as reproductive health education and other essential curricula are already required.

This is not a political recommendation but an equity-centered one that empowers entire families and communities.

Structural Changes for Genuine Youth Involvement

All the above recommendations face a common obstacle: youth are rarely in the rooms where these decisions are made. Having a seat at the table is only meaningful if that seat comes with influence. Youth leaders are calling for two structural changes.

First, youth advisory bodies, such as school board Student Advisory Councils, must be designed as authentic structures for shared governance, not symbolic engagement. This means granting students formal decision-making power in processes such as superintendent searches, budgeting, and policy development.

Second, school districts, in partnership with the city, should implement at least one meaningful civic engagement initiative per school year. This could include voter registration drives, youth forums, or civic education programming, so that participation becomes a practice, not an exception.

If youth aren’t at the forefront of these decisions, the policies that follow will not reflect them. The solutions are ready, the urgency is real, and the path forward is clear. The question now is whether the adults in those rooms are willing to share genuine power, not just offer a chair.