The document summarizes key findings from the Speak Up Research Project regarding the path forward for equity and student agency based on research insights. Some of the main points include: 1) The pandemic exposed inequities in access to technology and learning experiences, but districts have made progress in addressing the homework gap through initiatives like device and hotspot loan programs. 2) While access has improved, equity concerns remain regarding the efficacy of technology use, teachers' comfort levels with new learning models, and addressing students' diverse needs. 3) Students want more control and choice in their learning, seeing benefits to virtual learning like flexibility, but many still learn best with in-person interactions. Their vision for effective learning focuses

1. Leading Towards Equity & Student Agency:
New Research Reveals the Path Forward
Key findings from the Speak Up Research Project
Julie A. Evans, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Project Tomorrow February 18, 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
▪ Revealing the Path Forward – based upon the research
o Equity of Access and Equity of Learning Experiences
o Student Agency and Empowerment
▪ 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
teachers and staff 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. About the Speak Up Research Project
Thank you Dr. Domenech for kicking off this year’s
Congressional Briefing with your opening remarks!
https://tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congress.html

9. About the Speak Up Research Project
▪ To get a copy of today’s
presentation deck
▪ To learn more about the
Speak Up Research
▪ To understand the benefits 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?
▪ Virtual learning exposed why innovation is so hard in education
▪ New momentum is growing for a broader definition of what constitutes effective learning
▪ 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
▪ Understanding equity is about much more than access to a Chromebook and hotspot
▪ New vulnerabilities to cyberattacks in our education systems

12. Are we all seeing the same things?
Do your stakeholders see the state of
education the same way you do?
We all see different things when we
reflect on the impact of the pandemic.
How are these different sightlines
influencing or affecting your decisions?
Speak Up research findings provide a
way to understand and appreciate the
diverse views and different perspectives
of your key stakeholders.

13. Leveraging the Speak Up Research findings and insights to
inform your important decisions
Authentic feedback from:
✓ K-12 Students
✓ Teachers
✓ Parents
✓ School Administrators
✓ District Administrators
✓ District Technology Leaders
For this discussion, data
specifically across
four school years:
2017/18 – 2020/21
(input from over 922,000 K-12
stakeholders nationwide)

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

15. Superintendents & District Administrators
say these are the 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?

16. 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.
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

17. Equity of access
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!
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

18. Equity of access
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
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

19. Equity of access
For continuity of learning,
equity of digital access is 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!
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

20. What are school districts doing?
To address the Homework Gap … 2017-18
school year
2020-21
school year
Providing families with info about low cost Internet providers 25% 86%
Setting up a mobile hotspot loaner program 8% 85%
Parking lot access to school Internet 41% 75%
Sharing a list of safe WiFi locations in the community 30% 60%
Allowing students on campus early and late to access network 65% 59%
Encouraging libraries and other community spaces to give
students priority access
51% 54%
Equipping school buses with Internet hotspots 6% 31%
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

21. In-classroom efficacy impacted by out of
school access challenges
What do you need to use technology more effectively in your classroom?
“Confidence that my students have safe and consistent access
to technology and the Internet outside of school”
▪ 62% of elementary teachers
▪ 68% of middle school teachers
▪ 68% of high school teachers
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

22. Equity concerns are top of mind for most
educators today.
60% of district leaders say the effective use of technology
within learning can support equity of
educational opportunities within their district.
But are our teachers ready to leverage technology to support equity?
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

23. 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
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

24. Teacher comfort with new learning models
Teaching practices optimizing by
effective technology usage
% of teachers who say they are very comfortable
with these practices
All teachers
Teachers in
urban schools
Teachers in
suburban
schools
Teachers in
rural schools
Engaging with students when learning
is online
44% 53% 48% 38%
Using data to inform instruction 38% 49% 43% 32%
Personalizing learning 37% 40% 40% 33%
Differentiating instruction 29% 36% 31% 24%
Facilitating student collaborations
using digital tools
27% 34% 28% 24%
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

25. Teachers value technology differently
“I am better able to personalize learning for my students
when I use technology effectively in my class”
▪ 57% of teachers in schools where the majority of students are
students of color
▪ 48% of teachers in schools where the majority of students are white
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

26. Prioritizing teacher professional learning that
supports confidence building with technology,
not just developing the skills using the tools
Teachers’ self-identified needs:
▪ Including planning time with colleagues (65% of teachers)
▪ Just-in-time tech support when needed (53%)
▪ List of recommended resources that have been vetted by my district (42%)
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

27. Digital tools 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
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

28. Digital tools provide convenience and effectiveness
with school and teacher communications
✓ Make it easy
✓ Push, not search
✓ Personalize it to me!
✓ Timeliness and currency
✓ Empowering agency
✓ Appreciating the new roles
✓ Connecting with real world
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

29. 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
Digital tools enable greater ownership of student
learning
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

30. 54%
38%
32%
Fully virtual
learning
Hybrid learning Fully in-person
learning
Students use of text messaging to
communicate with teachers by school
format
Digital tools enable greater ownership of student
learning
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

31. 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
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

32. ▪ Getting to know each other
o About Project Tomorrow & the Speak Up Research
▪ Headlines from the Speak Up Research Findings
▪ Revealing the Path Forward – based upon the research
o Equity of Access and Equity of Learning Experiences
o Student Agency and Empowerment
▪ Additional resources for you and your district team
Our discussion today

33. 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
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

34. 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?
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

35. We all know that students like learning ….
“I like learning how to do things” –
65% of students
“I like learning about new ideas” –
59%
“I like learning how to make things”-
54%
But is school intrinsically
motivating or engaging for
students?
Did the pandemic impact
student engagement in school?
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

36. 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
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

37. Is it really about engagement?
Does technology use = increased student
engagement in learning?
Adult perspective:
The primary outcome of using technology
within learning is increased student
engagement.
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

38. Metrics for evaluating technology outcomes
District leaders say these are the most important outcomes when evaluating
student technology for learning:
▪ Evidence of student skill development (80%)
▪ Increases in student academic growth (75%)
▪ Evidence of student engagement (75%)
▪ Increases in student achievement results (59%)
▪ Enhanced teacher effectiveness (59%)
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

39. Students have a
different
perspective on
the value of
technology
within learning
Benefits of using technology to support learning % of students in Grades 6
who agree
✓ Improved academic outcomes
Better grades and test scores 61%
Stronger understanding of class content 55%
More likely to complete homework assignments 51%
✓ Future-ready skill development outcomes
Creativity skill development 57%
Application of knowledge to practical problems 48%
Critical thinking skill development 48%
Collaboration skill development 47%
✓ Personalized learning outcomes
Learning at one’s own pace 58%
In control of the learning process 50%
Fits personal learning goals and style 50%
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

40. But what about engagement ….?
Doesn’t make the student top 10 list:
only 45% of 6th graders identify
increased engagement as a
key outcome of using technology to
support schoolwork
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

41. What we may see as the
“student engagement”
the students themselves see as the
“process of developing creativity
skills and being in control of their
own learning.”
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

42. Designing a better school – the student perspective
What types of learning experiences do students say will best prepare them for future
success?
Experience: Having real work experience or internship
Real world: Participating in authentic problem solving around real-world issues
Leadership: Being part of a leadership group at school
Community: Engaging with the local community on collaborative projects
Fluency: Developing communications skills including learning a second language
Technology: Using technology outside of school to pursue self-directed learning
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

43. Examples:
▪ Learning how to do something by watching a YouTube video
▪ Working to improve writing skills by getting feedback from
online writing forums
▪ Playing online and video games to learn workplace skills
▪ Using voice technologies to get answers to their curiosities
▪ Using social media and TEDTalks to learn about new ideas
▪ Researching information on websites or asking questions on
online forums
For today’s students, learning is a 24/7 enterprise
Students are engaged in learning outside of school:
using their own tools, being in control of the learning process and
explore areas of personal learning interest
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

44. 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%
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

45. 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%
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

46. 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”
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

47. 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
A different type of equity to consider:
equity of agency
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

48. “The voyage of
discovery is not in
seeking new
landscapes, but in
having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust
Leading Toward Equity & Student Agency

49. Which adjective best describes how your
teachers and staff are feeling today?
Apprehensive
Nostalgic
Exhausted
Hopeful
Accepting

50. “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
teachers and staff are feeling today?

51. ▪ 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

52. Use the Speak Up resources to inform your school or district plans this year
Contact me directly
for a personal
consultation on
how to effectively
use the free Speak
Up surveys!

53. About the Speak Up Research Project
▪ To get a copy of today’s
presentation deck
▪ To learn more about the
Speak Up Research
▪ To understand the benefits of
Speak Up participation

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