Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) students are paving the way with the newly established PWCS Student Bill of Rights, supported by the Prince William County School Board as part of the 2025-26 Code of Behavior approved on Wednesday. This document is designed to inform students about their rights and aims to protect all PWCS students. 

The PWCS Student Senate, comprised of student representatives from all PWCS high schools, has been developing the Student Bill of Rights since January 2023. Over the years, a total of 60 student senators have dedicated time and effort to advocate for their fellow peers in the creation of the document.  

This is the second year Adom Opoku-Saama has served as a student senator. The Woodbridge High School senior heavily contributed to the early development and creation of the PWCS Student Bill of Rights. 

“Working on the Student Bill of Rights has been nothing short of empowering,” said Opoku-Saama. “I’m very proud of the final result as it is a reflection of all the hard work we’ve done over the last two years. I hope to see other counties adopt it and carry on this legacy.” 

The Student Bill of Rights was created through three phases: inspiration, creation, and editing. First, students researched other student bills of rights and gathered input from all PWCS high schools. Next, they developed criteria for what rights to include. Finally, students sought feedback on drafts of the document from middle and high school students, teachers, administrators, and central office staff. 

The final document includes seven key categories: Access to High Quality Education, Modern Technology, Civic Participation and Decision Making, Diversity and Inclusion, Positive School Climate, Free Expression, and Due Process. 

The PWCS Student Bill of Rights will go into effect in August 2025.