Connecting the Dots Between Equity and Communications
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The document summarizes key findings from the Speak Up Research project regarding equity in education. It finds that addressing equity concerns requires discussing equity more comprehensively and inclusively. It also finds inequities still exist in technology access and learning experiences despite increased investments. Additionally, empowering student agency and ownership over learning is important for equity but many teachers are still uncomfortable with student choice. Digital tools can help support greater equity if used to enable personalized, convenient communications and greater student control over learning.
Connecting the Dots Between Equity and Communications
- 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