The Vision of Student-Powered Improvement

The vision of Student-Powered Improvement is to design solutions with students rather than for students. Create better schools by meeting students’ real experiences and needs.

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What does student-powered improvement mean?

01/04

Solutions driven by students

Student-powered improvement makes schools better by inviting students to create solutions that address their needs.

Inclusive school environments

Student-powered improvement creates schools that recognize and value students’ unique identities, strengths, and needs.

Honest shift in power

Student-powered improvement reimagines the hierarchy between adults and students in schools.

Empowered students

Student-powered improvement creates the conditions needed for students to make a difference in school and beyond.

What people are saying

Students are most impacted by the problems we're trying to solve. So I think that students designing solutions for the problems that they're most connected to is really important.

High school student

Oregon

We think that adults know what's best for us but the reality is we know what’s best for us too.

High school student

California

I used to think that students from various grade levels may not be able to have meaningful conversations because of their age. [After this student-powered improvement experience] I think students are able to communicate meaningfully with adults and students regardless of their age or backgrounds.

Educator

South Carolina

We’re going to see improvement in students knowing their voice matters; they just needed the opportunity to use it in a meaningful and empowering way.

Educator

California

Students are most impacted by the problems we're trying to solve. So I think that students designing solutions for the problems that they're most connected to is really important.

High school student

Oregon

We think that adults know what's best for us but the reality is we know what’s best for us too.

High school student

California

I used to think that students from various grade levels may not be able to have meaningful conversations because of their age. [After this student-powered improvement experience] I think students are able to communicate meaningfully with adults and students regardless of their age or backgrounds.

Educator

South Carolina

We’re going to see improvement in students knowing their voice matters; they just needed the opportunity to use it in a meaningful and empowering way.

Educator

California

Students are most impacted by the problems we're trying to solve. So I think that students designing solutions for the problems that they're most connected to is really important.

High school student

Oregon

We think that adults know what's best for us but the reality is we know what’s best for us too.

High school student

California

I used to think that students from various grade levels may not be able to have meaningful conversations because of their age. [After this student-powered improvement experience] I think students are able to communicate meaningfully with adults and students regardless of their age or backgrounds.

Educator

South Carolina

We’re going to see improvement in students knowing their voice matters; they just needed the opportunity to use it in a meaningful and empowering way.

Educator

California

Stevie and Mia

New Tech Network

Camille

Baltimore City Schools

Stevie and Mia

New Tech Network

Camille

Baltimore City Schools

Stevie and Mia

New Tech Network

Camille

Baltimore City Schools

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Resource

Guiding Principles

Six guiding principles help ensure that student-powered improvement efforts are authentic and meaningful.

Course

The Student-powered improvement framework

Explore the student-powered improvement framework of possibilities.

We are committed to student-powered improvement

Community Design Partners helps organizations make lasting change in their communities. Student-powered improvement is one way we work with organizations and schools to achieve more equitable outcomes for all people. We’d love to connect.

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Assessment

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