Centering Student Voice in Oregon OCF K-12 Out of School Time Initiative “Kickoff”

Providing Context for Student Voice Sammy’s Section

What is Student Voice? We define student voice as the ways in which all students have opportunities to participate in and influence the education decisions that will shape their lives and the lives of their peers (Mitra, 2009). Often seen as a more democratic strategy for addressing education changes. We often use the term student voice interchangeable with student participation, student engagement, youth-adult partnership, etc (Murphy, 2017). These student voice opportunities can occur in multiple forms and levels of engagement with many different actors participating in the processes (Conner, 2015). These opportunities range from participating in a survey or focus group to directly engaging in activity design.

Why is Student Voice Important? Research shows that students as young as 9 years old (3rd or 4th grade) can begin to separate themselves from adults and provide meaningful feedback on classroom instruction or program activities (Flutter & Rudduck, 2004). Increase youth agency, self-esteem, belonging, competence, democracy skills, and leadership (Mager and Nowak, 2012). Improvement in student academic achievement and health (Mager and Nowak, 2012). Positive changes in classroom practice and program activities to better serve student needs (Mitra & Gross, 2009).

Student Voice Models for Engagement Youth run, limited influence over decisions from adults Forms of Participation Youth run, shared decisions with adults Adult run, shared decisions with youth Adult run, active listening (etc. adults solicit & incorporate student views) Non-Participation (etc. tokenism, decoration, & manipulation) Forms of Non-Participation (Hart, 1992; Mitra & Gross, 2009; Conner, 2015)

Factors Impacting Student Engagement Identify and overcome barriers Consider: Trust and openness Student representation Purpose Staff turnover Overturn traditional adult-student roles Create: Shared authority Collective responsibility Inclusive environment of all abilities & contributions Solidify structures and practices Establish: Clear activities & goals Ways to complete work (collective & individual) Expectations (students’ first or not) Leads to a thriving student engagement (Mitra, 2004; Mitra & Holquist, 2018)

Sustainability Concerns Adult champion Sustainability Concerns Student leaders Flexible structures & practices Maintain student engagement in decision making requires ongoing commitment. Research shows that there are five factors that can help grow and sustain student voice overtime (Mitra & Holquist, 2018). Growing & sustaining student voice Youth-focused allies Institutionalized student participation

Discussion & Share Out For 5 minutes at your table, consider the following: Is your program currently offering students opportunities to engage in decision making? How is your program currently including student voice in your activities? Please prepare one example from your table to share out to the group.

Including Students in Evaluation Efforts Raja’s Section

Why Include Students in Evaluation Efforts? After school programs are designed to serve the needs of students and support their development outside the classroom. Students often are aware of what is and what is not working for a program and can provide meaningful feedback. Students also provide innovative ideas that may not have been previous considered. Inclusion in evaluation offers another youth development opportunity and deeper learning for the students.

Ways to Include Students in Efforts Student Surveys: Build a survey together with your participates to ensure you are capturing the right information. Student-Led Focus Groups: Teach students how to lead, organize, and analyze a focus group. Student Observations: Show students how to observe activities, then allow them to pick an activity to observe and report on. Photo Voice: Co-construct photo and interview protocols with students. Narrative Writing: Co-construct protocols with students. Student Analysis: Include students in your data analysis as students often find different information than adults due to their divergent perspective.

Discussion & Share Out For 5 minutes at your table, consider the following: What does your program currently due to evaluate activities? How is your program including students in your evaluation efforts? Please prepare one example from your table to share out to the group.

Looking at Student Voice in Practice Raja’s Section

How Do We Center Student Voices? We are a youth-led organization; any middle or high school student attending school in Oregon can participate in program design. Student Surveys: Wrote a survey and administered it electronically to students across Oregon; received over 2,200 responses. Student-Led Focus Groups: Designed interview protocol and conducted 13 focus groups to understand student experiences; talked to over 200 students. Student Reports: Conduct research, analyze data, and write reports on the student experience in Oregon’s schools; include policy recommendations for the future. Student Trainings: Design trainings based on the needs of our students; identified through internal and external conversations with students.

Discussion & Share Out For 5 minutes at your table, consider the following: What small steps can you take right now to include student voice? How can you embed student voice into your programming? Please prepare one example from your table to share out to the group.