Connecting the Dots Between Equity and Communications with the Speak Up Research Findings

1. Connecting the Dots between
Equity and Communications with the
Speak Up Research Findings
Julie A. Evans, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Project Tomorrow
@JulieEvans_PT
Jevans@tomorrow.org February 22, 2022

2. Many thanks to our longstanding and valued partner:

3. ▪ Getting to know each other
o About Project Tomorrow & the Speak Up Research
▪ Headlines from the Speak Up Research Findings
▪ Connecting the Dots - based upon the research
o The 4 types of equity we should be talking about
o Implications on communications and community
engagement
▪ Additional resources for you and your district team
Our discussion today

4. Let’s get to
know each
other!

5. Which adjective best describes how your
internal and external communities
are feeling today?
Apprehensive
Nostalgic
Exhausted
Hopeful
Accepting

6. About Project Tomorrow
(www.tomorrow.org)
▪ Nonprofit education organization supporting K-12
education since 1996 through research, professional
learning and school-based programs
▪ Mission is to support the development of new capacities
and better decisions within the K-12 ecosystem
▪ Programs and research focus on role of innovation and
new learning models within education, notably around
digital learning. We believe in the power of
transformational teaching and learning to support
students’ preparation for future success.

7. About the Speak Up Research Project
▪ Annual research project since 2003
▪ We provide education leaders with a suite of normed
online surveys to collect valid feedback from their
stakeholders
▪ All preK-12 schools – public, private, parochial, charter,
virtual - are eligible to use the Speak Up tools
▪ Participating entities get summary reports with all
locally collected data + state and national data for
benchmarks
▪ Turnkey service provided by Project Tomorrow with no
charge/fee to participating districts
▪ National reports inform education, business and policy
decisions on K-12 education
▪ Speak Up is a tool that education leaders use to make
better decisions

8. ▪ Speak Up Research reports and infographics
▪ Evaluation and efficacy reports and infographics
from special projects
▪ Information if your school or district would like
to use the Speak Up tools and be part of the
larger Speak Up movement
▪ Engage with us to further explore how to
support greater equity and student agency in
K-12 education
Resources for you at www.tomorrow.org

9. About the Speak Up Research Project
▪ To get a copy of today’s
presentation deck and the
new report on equity
▪ To learn more about the
Speak Up Research
▪ To understand the benefits
for your district of
Speak Up participation

10. The pandemic and necessary
shifts and disruptions in K-12
education have changed
schools forever.
Some people just don’t know
that yet …

11. Headlines from the Speak Up Research this year:
What has been the impact of the pandemic on K-12 education?
▪ Critical importance of exemplar communications
▪ Increased awareness of social justice issues – especially in education
▪ Heightened focus on social, emotional and mental health considerations
▪ The role of the school in the community is evolving to meet new, unprecedented local needs
▪ Parents have new demands and expectations for education
▪ Parents really like the new transparency into their child’s learning lives
▪ Understanding equity is about much more than access to a Chromebook and hotspot
▪ New momentum is growing for a broader definition of what constitutes effective learning
▪ New vulnerabilities to cyberattacks in our education systems

12. Are we all seeing the same things?
Do your stakeholders see your district with
the same perspective as you do?
How are these different sightlines
influencing or affecting district decisions?
How is it impacting community engagement
and support?
Speak Up research findings provide a new
way to understand and appreciate the
diverse views and different perspectives of
your key stakeholders.

13. What issues are “waking up”
K-12 District Administrators in the
middle of the night today?

14. District Administrators say these are their
top “wake up” issues:
1. Student learning loss/recovery
2. Staff morale and motivation
3. Mental/emotional supports for students
4. Effective use of technology
5. Adequate funding
What issues are “waking up” K-12 District Administrators in
the middle of the night today?

15. Wake up issue: Equity in education
Equity concerns are top of mind for
educators nationwide today.
* Many leaders are thinking about how to leverage
technology more effectively to address inequities in
education.
* 60% of K-12 district leaders say the effective use of
technology within learning can support greater equity of
educational opportunities within their district.
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?

16. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Addressing equity concerns in our schools
✓ 33% of school principals and district administrators
overall identify “inequities in education” as a personal
concern today
✓ Among teachers, we see differences based upon
environment:
o 24% of teachers teaching in majority white
schools see “inequities in education” as a
concern
o 54% of teachers teaching in non-white
majority schools see “inequities in
education” as a concern

17. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
What does this new equity lens mean for our communications?
▪ Requires that we talk about equity more comprehensively
▪ Importance of inclusiveness and accessibility in our messaging and tool use
▪ Understand the real concerns that parents have today – and how those concerns may
vary in different communities: adjusting our messaging to fit reality
▪ Acknowledge where we have more work to do – and where growth is happening: the
need for authentic transparency is more important than ever
▪ Leverage the right digital tools at the right time to effectively inform and engage
▪ Embrace student agency and empowerment as a measure of equity

18. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning
Experiences
Equity of Opportunities
for Success
Equity of Agency
Example: Students have access to digital tools and
resources both in school and at home
Example: Students have consistency in learning
experiences and teacher quality
Example: Students can learn in environments that
are safe, trusting and supportive
Example: Students are explicitly empowered to take
ownership of their own learning
Thinking about “equity” with a broader lens beyond tech access
Equity of Access

19. 2018-19 school year:
▪ Only 4 in 10 school principals said their 1:1 program
allowed students to take their devices home
▪ 50% said they had no plans to do that!
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Access

20. 2018-19 school year:
▪ Only 4 in 10 school principals said their 1:1 program
allowed students to take their devices home
▪ 50% said they had no plans to do that!
2020-21 school year:
▪ 9 in 10 principals say they are providing devices to
students to use in school and at home
▪ 75% have WiFi hotspot loaner programs
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Access

21. For continuity of learning, equity
of digital access continues to be a
significant focus in most districts
Speak Up data results:
▪ 2019: 13-15% students impacted
by the “Homework Gap” at least
occasionally; no significant change
since 2009
▪ 2021: 9-11% of students now
reporting this = some progress but
not enough to call victory!
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Access

22. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning
Experiences
Equity of Opportunities
for Success
Equity of Agency
Example: Students have access to digital tools and
resources both in school and at home
Example: Students have consistency in learning
experiences and teacher quality
Example: Students can learn in environments that
are safe, trusting and supportive
Example: Students are explicitly empowered to take
ownership of their own learning
Thinking about “equity” with a broader lens beyond tech access
Equity of Access

23. Understanding the Student Vision for Learning
Per the students, the essential
elements for an effective learning
environment:
▪ Socially-based
▪ Un-tethered
▪ Contextually rich
▪ Independently driven
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning Experiences

24. Replicating in-school, in-person
teaching practices in an online
environment was less than
successful.
New learning model adoption
requires re-thinking and
re-engineering practices,
curriculum, tools …. everything.
Online teaching during remote learning was not an effective
representation of virtual learning
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning Experiences

25. The virtual learning experiment
What do students say were the challenges of virtual learning?
Challenges of virtual learning
% of Gr 6-12 students
who agree
Doesn’t fit the way some students learn 66%
Miss social aspects of school 63%
Harder to collaborate on projects with classmates 55%
Less interactive and engaging 52%
Lack of teacher support when needed 47%
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?

26. The virtual learning experiment
What do students say were the benefits of virtual learning?
Benefits of virtual learning
% of Gr 6-12 students
who agree
Can learn at my own pace 67%
Less school drama 61%
Learn important tech skills for my future 57%
Develop greater responsibility for my own learning 57%
Easier to review class materials when I needed 43%
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?

27. The virtual learning experiment:
How do students say they learn best?
27%
16%
52%
72%
Gr 6-12 students in virtual learning settings Gr 6-12 students in F2F learning settings
“I learn best in a virtual classroom setting with my teacher and classmates”
“I learn best in a physical classroom setting with my teacher and classmates”
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning Experiences

28. What teachers say
they need to
implement digital
learning
% of teachers who agree that this is a need in their classroom
Schools
where
majority are
students of
color
Schools
where
majority are
white
students
Urban
schools
Suburban
schools
Rural
schools
Consistent,
reliable, high-
capacity Internet
bandwidth
72% 59% 75% 69% 54%
Classroom set of
devices for every
student to use
59% 32% 62% 55% 34%
Despite increased
investments in
technology over the
past year, inequities
still exist.
And thus, the learning
experiences are not
equitable for all.
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning Experiences

29. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning
Experiences
Equity of Opportunities
for Success
Equity of Agency
Example: Students have access to digital tools and
resources both in school and at home
Example: Students have consistency in learning
experiences and teacher quality
Example: Students can learn in environments that
are safe, trusting and supportive
Example: Students are explicitly empowered to take
ownership of their own learning
Thinking about “equity” with a broader lens beyond tech access
Equity of Access

30. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Social-emotional well-being of students
49% 49%
38%
31%
61% 63%
46%
37%
There is an adult at school I
trust
I feel physically safe at
school
I feel emotionally safe at
school
My school cares about me
High school students - non white majority schools High school students - white majority schools
Equity of Opportunities for Success

31. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Engaging with parents’ concerns and aspirations is important for
creating opportunities for success for all students
What concerns you today about your child’s future?
1. Impact of COVID and school closures on my child’s social and emotional well-being (67% of parents)
2. Impact of COVID and school closures on my child’s academic achievement (61%)
3. My child’s lack of engagement in school (50%)
4. My child is not learning the right skills in school to be successful in the future (43%)
Equity of Opportunities for Success

32. 31%
35%
27%
40%
41%
27%
45%
35%
Parents – White
Parents – Black
Parents – Latinx
Parents – Asian
Parent wish: I wish my child’s school put a stronger emphasis on social emotional
development and learning at school
Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Engaging with parents’ concerns and aspirations is important for
creating opportunities for success for all students
Equity of Opportunities for Success

33. Leveraging digital tools to support parental and community engagement
▪ 54% of parents agree that their child’s
school has provided ways for them to
be engaged in their child’s educational
life during the past school year
▪ Only 27% of parents disagreed
Engaging with parents’ concerns and aspirations
is important for creating opportunities for
success for all students
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Opportunities for Success

34. Digital tools provide convenience and effectiveness with school and
teacher communications
What parents want in school/district
communication:
✓ Make it easy
✓ Push, not search
✓ Personalize it to me!
✓ Timeliness and currency
✓ Empower agency
✓ Appreciate the new roles
✓ Connect message with the real world
Equity of Opportunities for Success
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?

35. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Learning
Experiences
Equity of Opportunities
for Success
Equity of Agency
Example: Students have access to digital tools and
resources both in school and at home
Example: Students have consistency in learning
experiences and teacher quality
Example: Students can learn in environments that
are safe, trusting and supportive
Example: Students are explicitly empowered to take
ownership of their own learning
Thinking about “equity” with a broader lens beyond tech access
Equity of Access

36. Empowering student agency & engagement in learning
Did the pandemic and remote learning
change students’ perceptions of the value
of school and learning?
How did these experiences impact
student agency?
What are the implications of this on the
purpose of education?
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Agency

37. 50%
48%
49%
50%
52%
51%
20-21 SY
19-20 SY during closures
19-20 SY before closures
Grade 6-12 students’ assessment of engagement
in classroom learning
Engaged Not Engaged
Student response to:
“I am engaged in what
I am learning in school
most of the time”
Our student engagement crisis precedes the pandemic
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?

38. How students say they learn
best:
“I like learning when I can
be in control of when and
how I learn”
51% of students in
grades 6-12
Teachers’ comfort level with
student choice:
“I am very comfortable
allowing students to have
choice about how they learn”
32% of teachers with
assignments in grades 6-12
The disconnect
between students
and teachers on
student choice in
the classroom is
impacting student
agency
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Agency

39. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Agency
47%
44%
47%
51%
24% 22% 20%
32%
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Student preference for choice Teacher comfort with choice
But teachers’ comfort level with allowing students to have choice is increasing …

40. 54%
38%
32%
Fully virtual learning Hybrid learning Fully in-person
learning
Students use of text messaging to communicate with
teachers by school format
Equity of Agency
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Digital tools enable greater ownership of
student learning

41. What is most effective for communications with your teacher?
1. Personal email customized to me – 70% of students in grades 9-12
2. Using a messaging app with conversational communications – 64%
3. Text messaging with my teacher – 56%
Not as popular anymore:
o General email blast to all students
o Website updates
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Equity of Agency
Digital tools enable greater ownership of
student learning

42. What is most effective for communication about general school information?
It’s all about social media tools that high school students are already using
in their out-of-school lives!
69% 73% 63% 67%
Digital tools enable greater ownership of
student learning
Equity of Agency
Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?

43. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
Parents’ preferences for modes of communication/engagement follow
the student trends as well
General Info
Emails – 74%
Social media – 70%
Website – 69%
Mobile app – 58%
Videos – 58%
School opening info
Emails – 61%
Website – 53%
Social media – 46%
Crisis/alert info
Text message – 69%
Auto phone msg–56%
Mobile app – 43%
Info from teacher
Phone call – 78%
Msg app with
conversation – 63%
Text message – 53%
School portal – 59%
✓ Make it easy
✓ Push, not search
✓ Personalize it to me!
✓ Timeliness and currency
✓ Empower agency
✓ Appreciate the new roles
✓ Connect to real world

44. ▪ Getting to know each other
o About Project Tomorrow & the Speak Up Research
▪ Headlines from the Speak Up Research Findings
▪ Connecting the Dots - based upon the research
o The 4 types of equity we should be talking about
o Implications on communications and community
engagement
▪ Additional resources for you and your district team
Our discussion today

45. Speak Up Findings: What did we know? What did we learn?
What new insights can we draw from this research?
▪ Requires that we talk about equity more comprehensively
▪ Importance of inclusiveness and accessibility in our messaging and tool use
▪ Understand the real concerns that parents have today – and how those concerns may
vary in different communities: adjusting our messaging to fit reality
▪ Acknowledge where we have more work to do – and where growth is happening: the
need for authentic transparency is more important than ever
▪ Leverage the right digital tools at the right time to effectively to inform and engage
▪ Embrace student agency and empowerment as a measure of equity

46. “The voyage of
discovery is not in
seeking new
landscapes, but in
having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust
Connecting the Dots between Equity and Communications

47. Which adjective best describes how your
internal and external communities
are feeling today?
Apprehensive
Nostalgic
Exhausted
Hopeful
Accepting

48. “We’ve learned so much over the past year. I hope
that we can build a better future now and not go back
to how school was in the past.”
High school student
March 2021
Our students are hopeful
Which adjective best describes how your
internal and external communities
are feeling today?

49. About the Speak Up Research Project
▪ To get a copy of today’s
presentation deck and the
new report on equity
▪ To learn more about the
Speak Up Research
▪ To understand the benefits
for your district of
Speak Up participation

50. ▪ Speak Up Research reports and infographics
▪ Evaluation and efficacy reports and infographics
from special projects
▪ Information if your district would like to use the
Speak Up tools and be part of the larger Speak
Up movement
▪ Engage with us to further explore how to
support greater equity and student agency in
K-12 education
Resources for you at www.tomorrow.org

51. Use the Speak Up resources to inform your district plans this year
Want to learn
more?
• Contact me
directly for a
personal
consultation
Value proposition:
• Comparative
data for context
• Normed surveys
for data validity
• No cost to
participate

53. Let’s talk!
What are your
thoughts and
insights?

54. Julie A. Evans, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org
@JulieEvans_PT
949-609-4661