Voices of Color: Using Student Voice to Transform Learning Environments and Achieve Educational Equity C February 9, 2007 Cheryl Greene, Ed.D

I invite you to: Listen with an open heart and mind to the voices of students. Engage in “courageous conversation.” Consider how student voice can foster your equity journey.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new landscapes but of seeing through new eyes.” -Marcel Proust

Courageous Conversations To understand the impact of race on the achievement gap…we need to engage in “Courageous Conversations” in order to deeply examine the effects of race. --Glenn E. Singleton

Courageous Listen with an open heart and mind. Conversations Maximize the power of conversations to envision new possibilities and create a culture of change

The Kyrene Story: “Academic Excellence”

Kindergarten – 8 th Grade Located in Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler 6 Middle Schools (Grades 6 – 8 ) 19 Elementary (Grades K – 5) Student Demographics 71% White 13.5% Hispanic 7% Asian6% African American 1.8% Native American Kyrene School District

“Kyrene students excel academically. Since the 2000 administration of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS), Kyrene students in grades 3, 5, and 8 have consistently out performed the state in the percent of the Meet or Exceeds Category.”

Kyrene School District A Top Performing District The Arizona Department of Education provides each school with a rating based on the state's school accountability system, Arizona Learns. Based on 2006 performance: All 25 schools met or exceeded state performance and progress goals 19 Kyrene schools, including all 6 middle schools, received the "Excelling" Rating All 25 schools ranked "Excelling" or "Highly Performing"

Kyrene and Arizona 8 th Grade Math AIMS 2003

Kyrene School District AIMS-Math 2003

Kyrene School District Falls Far Below and Approaching 8th Grade Math AIMS 2003

Kyrene School District Challenges and Barriers A focus on aggregate v. disaggregated data. Avoidance of courageous conversations. Unwillingness to acknowledge the racial achievement gap.

Think about the racial and ethnic diversity within your organization, school or district. Consider the achievement of students in your school or district. What are your challenges? Successes? Reflect on your experiences regarding educational equity.

Voices of Color The Power of Student Voice to Foster Courageous Conversations

Stereotypes Expectations for Student Achievement Making School Real for Students Parental Support of Education Finding Your Voice Voices of Color What spoke to you?

What are some ways you have utilized student voice to transform your organization? What are some additional ways you could utilize student voice to address issues of educational equity? Student Voice

Race matters! Recognize it! Embrace it! Embark on your own racial identity/equity journey. Respect students’ need for safety. Talk less, listen more! Seek multiple voices; value multiple perspectives. Co-create/team up with students. Utilizing Student Voice to Transform Learning Environments

Voice is… Unique personal significance – significance that is revealed as we face our greatest challenges and which makes us equal to them. --Stephen Covey, “The 8 th Habit”

The Kyrene Story Post Script Core Beliefs that Guide Our Equity Work: Equity is a priority. All children can learn (at high levels). A focus on in-school factors is essential.

The Kyrene Story Post Script New mission and vision statements: include “all” and “every” child District Equity Team School-based Equity Teams Moving toward disaggregated data analysis

Find your voice. Express your voice. Help others find theirs. Together, be the voice of equity.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” --James Baldwin