Each legislative session, students across the state wait to see what new policies will shape their schools — but a select group of YES Prep students is getting up close and personal to the action. This spring, 61 high school students from across YES Prep campuses traveled to Austin to participate in our YES Prep Capitol Day — a hands-on experience in civic leadership, the legislative process, and community engagement.
Led by the YES Prep Advocacy Team and supported by Teacher Advocacy Captains (TACs), Capitol Day is more than a visit to the historic building — it’s a platform for students to learn, talk to lawmakers directly, and see the policymaking process up close.
“The trip is the major initiative of the YES Prep Teacher Advocacy Captains,” said Sarah Landsman, managing director of advocacy and community engagement. “They select the students, guide them throughout the experience and help them step confidently into the world of civic advocacy.”
An experience with purpose
Now in its fourth year, the Capitol Day program has grown into a powerful tradition. The experience begins with a student-led scavenger hunt through the Capitol building, designed to help students familiarize themselves with the history, structure and significance of the space. After the tour, students participate in a Q&A session with lawmakers, this year featuring Rep. Josey Garcia, Rep. Jolanda Jones and a representative from Rep. James Talarico’s office.
“One of our goals is to make government feel accessible to our students,” Landsman said. “We want them to leave knowing this building isn’t reserved for adults in suits — it’s for them, too.”
The day’s final, and arguably most impactful, component is a series of small-group meetings with legislative offices, where students speak directly to the people who make decisions affecting their education. This year, students met with key offices such as Public Education Chairman Brad Buckley, who is overseeing major school finance legislation, including teacher pay raises and charter school facilities funding.
“Five of our seniors and two of our teachers sat in on that meeting,” Landsman said. “They asked challenging questions, expressed gratitude and showed up with clarity and confidence. It was one of those moments where you know students are walking away changed— more confident and empowered.”
Growing our impact
What made this year’s trip even more special was YES Prep’s decision to expand the event beyond its own district. For the first time, YES Prep invited other charter networks to join in the experience. Students, educators, parents, alumni and volunteers from IDEA Public Schools, KIPP Texas Public Schools, and RYSS joined YES Prep in Austin. Together, they extended their reach to lawmakers in San Antonio and Austin — significantly increasing awareness of the public charter school community. All in all, the charter community visited 45 legislative offices.
By building partnerships and showing a united front, students were able to share a broader perspective on public education and the role charter schools play in it.
Why it matters
Advocacy is an essential part of YES Prep’s mission. As a public charter school system, it is critical to build relationships with legislators — especially since decisions made at the Capitol directly impact our classrooms.
“Lawmakers often misunderstand what charter schools are, or they don’t know about us at all,” Landsman said. “This trip helps change that. When they meet our students and teachers face to face, they remember our stories.”
Students, too, walk away with a new perspective. One student wrote in a testimonial, “Before this trip, I never thought I could speak to a lawmaker. Now I know I can and should.” Another shared, “It was empowering to be treated like my opinion matters. I’ll never forget this experience.”
Teacher reflections
We asked a few of our participating educators to share what Capitol Day meant to them and their students.
One teacher shared, “Your voice matters! It's powerful and It's your platform!” - Alicia Hunter, teacher at Fifth Ward Secondary
“This year the trip to the Capital was very inspiring for my students and I. Hearing the stories of how each Representative came to be the voice of their constituents was both humbling and motivating. My students were able to see pieces of their own identity in each of the Representatives. We learned the true impact that each of us as individuals can have on the legislative process and how to get involved.” - Clorena Myles, Teacher Advocacy Captain at White Oak Secondary
Looking ahead
YES Prep’s Capitol Day is a recurring initiative that exposes our students and schools to important policy conversations. As lawmakers change with each election cycle, YES Prep remains committed to showing up year after year.
This year, our students didn’t just visit the Capitol — they made their mark. And as we look toward the future, one thing is clear: When students speak, leaders listen.