SEAT's Texas Legislative Fellowship offers an intensive and hands-on program to engage students in the Texas legislative session. Throughout the academic year, students will learn about the legislature and develop practical skills needed to turn policy ideas into legislative action.
Fellowship Purpose
Facing a shifting federal policy landscape affecting public education, civil rights, and democracy, student voices are needed now more than ever to be the frontline for defending our communities and our shared future. Texas students are directly impacted by decisions made by the legislature, yet we are often excluded from conversations. Now, we are claiming a seat at the table.
Fellows will research policy issues, identify problems facing Texas students, craft concrete legislative proposals, build relationships with legislative offices and organizations, and develop strategies to successfully advocate for their bills.
Recent Fellowship Highlights
In Spring 2026, SEAT brought a dozen students to Capitol Hill for its Federal Policy Fellowship. During the 5-day trip, fellows organized a Congressional briefing on SEAT's Youth Mental Health Agenda with Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, hosted a community reception with Mary Beth Tinker and Congressman Christian Menefee, and visited 300+ Congressional offices to distribute policy briefs. Fellows experienced committee hearings with cabinet secretaries, a private tour of the Senate chamber during a midnight vote-a-rama, and a documentary screening on student organizing.
In Fall 2025, SEAT hosted young leaders representing 25+ unique school districts and colleges for a Community Engagement Fellowship. With the support of young professionals as peer mentors, fellows participated in biweekly workshops with policy experts, convened in San Marcos for a weekend retreat with Rep. Erin Zwiener and indigenous resistance poet Maxochitl Cortez, and organized local advocacy campaigns for civic transformation.
Program Expectations
The program combines structured cohort learning with individualized coaching. During the Fall semester through February, fellows will participate in biweekly 90-minute virtual sessions covering topics including policy research, bill drafting, coalition building, communications, media advocacy, and navigating the Texas Capitol. Once bills are filed, programming shifts toward individualized support as fellows work directly with SEAT’s State Policy Team to advance their legislation, participate in advocacy opportunities, testify before committees, and respond to developments throughout the legislative session.
- Commit ~3 hours/month for fellowship cohort meetings and ~3 hours/month for asynchronous work assignments from September 2026 to May 2027.
- Develop and advance an original legislative proposal by working with lawmakers to file a bill, starting in November and due by March.
- Maintain regular communication with fellowship staff and meet individually with SEAT staff as needed.
- Attend SEAT Advocacy Day on March 22, 2027, a Fellowship Convening (tentatively January), and other events or actions at the Texas Capitol.
- Make the most of SEAT's digital and in-person platforms like Slack, social media, and community networks as channels for student engagement.
- Grow personal leadership and further engage with SEAT, including at occasional statewide events and potentially as a member of the SEAT Chapter Network.
SEAT commits to supporting fellowship alumni in their ongoing endeavors, connecting them with influential people in advocacy and government, and helping them gain invaluable experience and political knowledge that will come in handy in all future opportunities, leadership, and public engagement.
For more information, please view the full curriculum outline and learning checklist.
Participant Eligibility
- The fellowship is open to students at a Texas college/university or high school who are between the ages of 15 and 25 years old.
- Students with lived experiences from historically underserved backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in education policy, civic engagement, and Texas legislative advocacy.
- Applicants should have the time and flexibility to participate throughout the fellowship, including occasionally during the school day, and remain actively engaged during the legislative session.
- Students under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian approval to participate.
- Fellows must be available biweekly on Mondays at 5:30-7pm CT for a 90-minute virtual meeting, beginning September 14, 2026.
Priority Deadline: Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 11:59pm (local time)
Applications Due: Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (local time)
Selected applicants will be notified of decisions in early September. Any questions or concerns? Please reach out to fellowship@studentsengaged.org.
