Raise Student Voice
To address the capacity need, we developed a three-part learning series titled “Engaging Youth Voice.” Our objectives were to:
- Describe the benefits of and plan for providing youth voice opportunities
- Investigate strategies for offering meaningful opportunities for student participation and decision-making within the school system
- Respond to the research and evaluate our thinking about the importance and effectiveness of implementing youth voice
As a part of this training, participants were introduced the youth voice continuum. Developed by Region 17 Comprehensive Center with input from OPI, the youth voice continuum is a research-based tool that helps adults assess how deeply they implement youth voice in their current practice and strategize how to increase youth voice to facilitate shared decision-making. The continuum expands on the Ladder of Participation model3 by focusing on the power dynamic between adults and youth.
Moving forward, training participants are tasked with using this tool in their individual settings to assess their implementation of youth voice, plan for ways to increase authentic engagement, and involve students in decision-making processes.
Beyond the workgroups, OPI developed and supported a youth panel keynote session at the 2022 Montana Summer Institute. Students shared their thoughts and experiences from their own schools to advocate for greater student leadership and governing opportunities and leverage their knowledge to improve school environments.
As adults and youth continue to learn from one another, schools and communities across Montana will build their capacity to create learning environments that are safe and healthy for all students.
1 Silva, E. M., & Rubin, B. C. (2003). Missing voices: listening to students’ experiences with school reform. In E. M. Silva & B. D. Rubin (Eds.), Critical voices in school reform: Students living through change (1st ed., pp. 2). Routledge Falmer.
2 Beaudoin, N. (2005). Elevating student voice: How to enhance participation, citizenship, andleadership. Eye On Education.
3 Hart, R. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. Innocenti essays (4). https://www.researchgate.net