Elevated Student Voice refers to a comprehensive approach where student feedback, tailored to their experiences and disaggregated by demographics, is systematically collected and utilized at different intervals throughout the school year. Learning experiences prioritize student voice and choice, placing students at the heart of the process. Actively involved in shaping individual and programmatic decisions, students influence their own learning journey. Classroom and schoolwide decisions embrace representation from all student voices, creating an inclusive and engaging educational environment.
Statements Depicting the Ideal Pursuit of a School
- Student feedback specific to their experiences, disaggregated by demographics, is systematically gathered and used at various points throughout the school year.
- Learning experiences prioritize student voice and choice, putting students at the center.
- Students actively participate in shaping the individual and programmatic decisions that impact their learning journey.
- All student voices are represented in classroom and schoolwide decisions, fostering inclusivity and active engagement.
Key Resources
Quotes
“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”― Ralph G. Nichols
“Student voice is already there. It’s not something we give. It’s something we honor. And we do when we listen.” – Monte Syrie, Teacher.
Reflection Prompts
- How do you create an environment where students enjoy learning because it feels purposeful and valuable to them?
- What groups of students at your school need to be listened to more? Generate 3 ideas about how you as a leader can engage these groups in the next 3 months.
- Write down your thoughts on how you are engaging your students to share their experiences and what they need from school.
All Toolkit Resources
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5 Ways to Support Your School Community: Integrating Trauma Responsiveness Into Your MTSS Framework
During a Crowdsource Coffee on May 10, 2023, Portico coaches and school leaders discussed strategies for rethinking systems with a trauma responsive mindset. Through their combined experience, they shared examples of challenges and best practices regarding integrating trauma responsiveness into their MTSS frameworks.
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Student Surveys: Evaluate and Elevate Your School’s Tiers of Support
In this segment, he shares examples of how focused and meaningful student surveys can help keep MTSS efforts, programs, and vision on-track to ensure ALL students are thriving and successful.
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Expansive Opportunities: Evaluate and Elevate Your School’s Tiers of Support
In this segment, he explains the concept and provides examples of how expansive opportunities—in addition to traditional MTSS tiers of support—ensure ALL students are thriving and successful.
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Develop Leaders of Today and Tomorrow: Create Student Leadership Opportunities
Create leadership courses and set up structures for students to take on meaningful leadership roles, empower their voices, and engage them in decision-making processes that impact the students, families, and staff.
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Purposeful, Valuable Learning: Foster Learners With Autonomy and Drive
This activity will assist your team in learning how to foster students with autonomy, drive, and endurance through instructional routines and school rituals.
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Exceptional Situations, Exceptional Students: Networks to Support Students in Intensive Circumstances
The academic and behavioral needs of most students are met through a continuum of support within a school. Some students, however, require out-of-system support due to extreme or intensive circumstances, such as long-term hospitalization. This January 27, 2023, Crowdsource Coffee focused on the proactive building of relationships between schools, districts, and other organizations to provide…