Overview

At ANet, we are committed to thinking about ways to elevate student voices and what this means for teachers, school leaders, and system leaders. Elevating student voice shifts participation and power within a school community. Students should have a voice for change, a voice about their learning, and voice within their learning. The resources below are aligned with PERT’s principles of student voice and should be viewed as a starting point for building a toolkit of holistic and equitable student support. To dig deeper, reach out to your ANet coach!

Develop the Appropriate Mindset

Resource

Description 

Tips for Implementation

The Schools Our Youth Demand

National Equity Project

Short overview of the role students play in creating liberated schools and how to shift culture and mindset from adult to student-centered. Read the examples of youth demands and reflect on opportunities that students in your community have to hold power and influence.

Elevating Student Voice in Education

Center for American Progress

Detailed report with clear definitions and strategies for elevating student voice. 

Consider using this article as foundational reading for staff, framing the “why.” This report captures the transformative power of students having a voice for change.

Create Opportunities for Student Choice 

Resource

Description 

Tips for Implementation

Create Opportunities for Student Choice Toolkit 

PERTS & Sevenzo

Toolkit with activities, videos, and strategies (e.g. learning menus) for increasing opportunities for student choice. 

Use these examples as an opportunity for you, the educator, to have a choice. Select one small action you can try in the classroom. 

Using Choice Boards to Boost Student Engagement

Edutopia

Article describing how choice boards can support student voice within assessments, homework, and remote instruction.  Reflect: Where in my students’ day do they have a choice in their learning? In what small ways can I increase the amount of choice? 

The Importance of Student Choice Across All Grade Levels

Edutopia

Article with tangible examples of developmentally appropriate choices across grade levels.  Zoom into one grade band and discuss with colleagues ways to increase choice in developmentally appropriate ways. 

Solicit Student Feedback

Resource

Description 

Tips for Implementation

Building SEL Surveys through the Online Quiz Tool

ANet & Panorama

Bank of prewritten SEL items developed alongside Panorama and available in ANet’s Online Quiz Tool.

Start small: identify a few questions you can ask students at multiple points throughout the year. Where do you see progress?

Empathy Interviews 

Zion and Zion

An outline of the what, why, and how of conducting empathy interviews. 

Build capacity among adults first. Practice conducting an empathy interview between colleagues. Reflect: What elements came naturally to you? What was more difficult?  

Elevate Survey

6th-12th grade survey to gauge students’ needs within their learning. 

Listen to teachers and students describe the importance of listening to and acting upon student feedback.

Leveraging Student Voice to Promote Stronger Developmental Relationships

To and Through

Short case study detailing insights from educators at one school that launched a Student Voice Committee. 

Reflect: What did this school learn in their experience? What might you take into your own practice? 

Math Journals 

Mills College

Asynchronous course to support the rollout of a math journal routine, organized in digestible modules. 

Complete on your own or as a team. The developers encourage adults to adopt a “Reflect, then Discuss” approach to reflect individually on ideas, observations and experiences before sharing and discussing. 

Respond Authentically to Student Feedback

Resource

Description 

Tips for Implementation

Model Agenda for Data Meeting with Students 

Aspen

Sample agenda to use with students to make sense of and act upon climate data.

Use this agenda to debrief any data you receive from the surveys listed in the section above. 

Constructivist Listening Protocol

NRF

Protocol for creating a safe space to practice listening and talking in-depth. 

Build capacity for constructivist listening among adults. Practice with low risk prompts first as adults strengthen their listening muscle.  

Anti-Racist Grading Methods

Shane Safir

List of twelve concrete steps for creating a more anti-racist grading system for students of all ages. 

Reflect: Which of these practices exist at your school? What steps would you need to take to advocate for change? 

Lifting up Student Voice: Tips for Collecting & Reflecting on Student Feedback 

TransformEd

Article summarizing strategies to use while collecting and reflecting on students’ informal feedback.

Consider collecting informal student feedback (e.g. from a conversation) in addition to any formal surveys you may launch. 

Student-Led Conferences

EL Education

Videos, templates, guiding questions, and case studies to support implementing student-led conferences with families.

Pick one sample video to watch and discuss with colleagues. Reflect: What did you notice? How are the outcomes of this conference similar to or different from a traditional conference? 

 Disclaimer: Many of these links take you to external organizations. It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with any copyright or permissions restrictions before using these materials.