Embedded Files
Tips for Getting Started:
Make sure you talk to your ASB (Associated Student Body) advisor at your school to complete the proper paperwork that your school requires. While the law protects the right of GSAs to form and meet, ASB approval will be required for any club to fund-raise and collect monies. ASB is also required to approve school signs and other paraphernalia you will use to advertise. You may also need to get approval from your School Site Council (SSC).
You will need at least one student interested and willing to sign the ASB and SSC paperwork to get your GSA established and/or ready to fund-raise.
All GSAs require at least one certificated employee to act as advisor. You may have a classified advisor, but a certificated employee must be present during meetings with students. The certificated advisor (an adult with a teaching or counseling credential) will be eligible to apply for grants from CTA or DonorsChoose.org.
Helpful Links:
ACLU's how to start a GSA site.
Edutopia's Starting a GSA in Middle School.
GLSEN's Slideshow on Starting a GSA
GLSEN 10 Step Guide
Sample School Budget: https://www.fcmat.org/publicationsreports/Club-Budget-Plan-8-2017.xlsx
The First 10 Meetings Curriculum Guide -- CreatingSafeSchools.org
Example ASB Constitution:
Example ASB Constitution:
Spurgeon Intermediate
Rainbow Warriors
ASB Constitution
Article I – Name of the Organization
The name of the organization shall be Rainbow Warriors of Spurgeon Intermediate School.
Article 2 - Objectives and Purpose.
Rainbow Warriors is Spurgeon Intermediate’s gay-straight alliance (GSA). Rainbow Warriors is a safe and welcoming club for LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) youth and their friends.
Students draw and paint pictures, play games, eat food, help other students, attend fieldtrips, and talk about issues of discrimination and bullying at Spurgeon Intermediate. Students will be a part of school climate improvement to help make all students feel safe at school.
Article 3 – Organization and Membership
All students who attend at least three Rainbow Warrior meetings shall be considered part of the Rainbow Warriors organization.
All Spurgeon Intermediate students are accepted regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Students enrolled in Engage 360 may also attend Rainbow Warriors. Students are required to return to their Engage 360 coordinator as soon as meetings are completed.
Article 4 – Leadership
The Faculty Advisor for Rainbow Warriors is Veronica Reinhart, Spurgeon Intermediate Social Studies Department Chair.
Associated Student Body Accounting Manual, Fraud Prevention Guide and Desk Reference
Publicity Chair (or Commissioner of Publicity)
Athletics Chair (or Commissioner of Athletics)
Academics Chair (or Commissioner of Academics)
The executive board shall have all executive powers. The executive board members shall serve as acting and voting members of the Best Practices School Student Council. The appointed officers and the adviser are non-voting members.
Duties of the executive board members are outlined in the bylaws to the constitution.
The positions on the executive board shall be filled by a general election of the ASB, held annually.
No member of the executive board may hold more than one ASB office or class office.
Executive board members shall hold office for one school year.
Article 5 – Student Council
The legislative powers of the ASB shall be vested in the student council as delegated by the school administration.
All actions of the student council are subject to review and possible veto by the ASB advisor and principal/school administrator.
The student council shall consist of 20 voting members: the ASB executive board and the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of each of the three classes (sophomore, junior, and senior).
(Note: The student council voting member number may vary, per desire of ASB.)
The elected, voting members of the student council shall be chosen by election as described in the bylaws.
The term of office for members of the student council shall be one school year.
The principal/school administrator shall appoint a certificated staff member of the district to serve as advisor to manage the club/student council and oversee its projects.
Article 6 – Amendments
Amendments to this constitution may originate:
In student council
By petition by 10 percent of the student body
By ballot
To represent the student council at all school and school district meetings where this representation is appropriate.
Amendments must be submitted in writing during a regular business meeting and must be posted for reading for 30 days.
Any amendments that do not pass with a two-thirds vote may not be reconsidered during the same school year.
Article 7 – Ratification
The student council shall ratify this constitution and any subsequent amendments through a two-thirds vote of the council.
Student Details Form for Classroom Teachers (Beginning of Year)
Student Details Form for Classroom Teachers (Beginning of Year)
Setting Norms:
Norms are guidelines for how the students will interact and communicate with you and each other. Norms help create a safe and private space for all individuals involved.
This should be done at the first or second meeting.
How to Establish Norms:
Creating a Social Contract -- Capturing Kids' Hearts
Creating a Social Contract -- AVID
Examples of Norms:
Photo Credit: GLSEN
Selecting a Space at Your School -- Checklist:
☑️ Is the space accessible during your meeting time? (e.g. lunch or after-school)
☑️ Is the space accessible to all grade levels?
☑️ Does the space allow for privacy?
☑️ Does the space allow for activities/movement?
☑️ Do you need to share the space with other groups/clubs? If so, have you worked out a schedule?
☑️ Is the space labeled/sign-posted so that students can easily find it?
EXAMPLE: First Meeting Agenda
Check In: Names, Pronouns, Grade Level, What brings you to the group today?
What is a GSA?
Norm/Community Agreements/Create a Group Social Contract
Survey (EXAMPLE; email Vern to get access to make a copy)
Create a Vision/Mission Statement (EXAMPLE; you may need more than one meeting for this)
Icebreaker
Snack
Dismissal
Tips for Successful Meetings:
🌈 Have an agenda for each meeting. You don't have to hand it out to the students, but know what you will do beforehand.
🌈 Always have a check-in. Names, pronouns, and a question of the week/meeting work well.
🌈 Vary activities. Depending on the age and attention span of your students, vary sitting/listening activities with standing/movement activities. Check out the ACTIVITIES PAGE for ideas.
🌈 Check out the GSA calendar for your district or the GLSEN national calendar to make sure you plan for major holidays and events.
🌈 Provide snacks at each meeting if possible. If you need funds for snacks, ask other teachers for donations; have students sign-up for potluck; check out the fundraising ideas below; or ask ELOP if they can assist.
🌈 Keep language and activities gender-neutral. Here are GLSEN's Tips for Building an Inclusive GSA!
Fundraising Ideas:
💰 LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant & Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa https://www.cta.org/for-educators/scholarships-awards/lgbtq-safety-in-schools
💰 Ask for educational donations to your GSA at DonorsChoose.org.
💰 GSAs can fund-raise for t-shirts at Custom Ink.
💰 GSafe fundraising ideas.
Choosing Leadership (OPTIONAL):
🙂 High school or upper middle school may be mature enough to have students hold official leadership roles within the GSA.
🙂 The group should collectively create a vision/mission for the GSA and decide on a leadership structure before holding elections.
Photo Credit: co4kids.org
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