“If you want a successful school culture—with strong involvement, engagement, and outcomes—then you need to sit down with your students at the table and hear them. Because nobody knows what it feels like to be a student other than students.” (MI Student Voice)

“My piece of advice would be: before you make assumptions about teenagers, take a second and talk to one.” (Listen. Learn. Lead. 2024)

Across the county and beyond, secondary students are telling us—clearly and consistently—what makes learning matter to them. They want learning that feels relevant, relationships that feel genuine, and classrooms where their voices shape the experience. And when these things are missing, they notice.

In recent focus groups, students shared honest insights about their learning experiences, needs, and what helps them stay engaged. Their reflections affirm and challenge our work as educators.

What We Heard: Insights from Local Student Voice

Here are a few key takeaways from what students shared:

Students engage most when learning feels relevant. Students are most engaged when learning connects to real life or their future goals. One student said, “It’s easier to stay engaged when I see how this could actually help me.”

Students want choice and autonomy in their learning. Many students expressed a desire for more choice in learning and demonstrating understanding, not for ease, but to feel ownership and creativity in their learning.

Students need authentic relationships with their teachers. Across focus groups, students said they engage more deeply when teachers know them as individuals and care about their well-being. Small gestures—greeting them by name, checking in when they’re struggling—make a big difference.

Students stay motivated when the work is purposeful. Students shared that “busywork” and repeated test prep activities make it harder to stay motivated, especially when they don’t understand the purpose.

Students welcome challenges when support is present. Students want to be pushed but also want scaffolding, feedback, and encouragement. The message is clear: it’s about all three Rs—rigor with relevance and relationships.

These findings reinforce what we know: engagement isn’t just about entertainment or energy. It’s about belonging, purpose, and challenge. These local insights align powerfully with what national research tells us about engagement.

Research-Based Insights from Student Voice

Our local student focus groups provided invaluable insights into the lived experiences of learners. The findings, overlaid with a comprehensive review of national and international research on student engagement, helped shape updated understandings to ground the work we must do moving forward.

Extensive studies in the Handbook of Research on Student Engagement (Christenson, Reschly, & Wylie, 2022) as well as results from the annual MI Student Voice survey (Basis Policy Research, 2023) offered both macro and micro lenses on engagement as a multifaceted construct encompassing behavioral, emotional, and cognitive dimensions.

Engaged students are more likely to exhibit positive academic behaviors, experience emotional connections to their learning, and employ deep cognitive strategies—all of which contribute to improved educational outcomes and overall well-being.

The Accelerators: A Framework for Success

Key takeaways from Kent ISD’s research and meta-analysis led to the creation of the Student Engagement Accelerators framework to better design intentional instructional strategies and interventions that address the holistic needs of our students, fostering environments where every learner has the right to thrive. Supportive relationships, student-centered experiences, safe and joyful learning environments, high-leverage instructional moves, and an asset-based orientation form the foundation of a comprehensive and engaging education. Each Accelerator deeply impacts the student learning experience, and together they weave a comprehensive vision of what is possible in our classrooms, hallways, and communities.

The Student Engagement Accelerators framework illustrates these five key areas:

The Five Key Areas:

These five accelerators represent the core elements students told us matter most:

• Relationships: The trust and empathy built through genuine connections
• Student-Centered: Learning driven by student interests, voice, and agency
• Climate/Environment: Spaces that feel safe, joyful, and conducive to productive struggle
• Instructional Moves: Teaching strategies that spark curiosity and support differentiated learning
• Asset-Driven Teaching: Approaches that value students’ backgrounds while maintaining high expectations

How Educators Can Apply These Insights

These insights apply whether you work in the classroom, student support, leadership, or curriculum. They invite each of us to ask:

• How are we making learning more meaningful and connected to students’ lives?
• Where do students have an authentic voice and agency in the learning process?
• How are we building relationships that support risk-taking, growth, and belonging?

We know no single strategy will transform engagement, but collective reflection and action can.

Register Now: Secondary Student Engagement Symposium

This summer, we’re hosting the Secondary Student Engagement Symposium to promote collaborative discussions and dive into the accelerators together. This event will build on the voices of local students and highlight practical ways to respond through instruction, design, and school culture.

Here’s a preview of what to expect:

• Student voice at the center—hear from local students through a live panel discussion
• Engaging strategies—tools and practices you can use right away to deepen relevance and agency
• Collaboration and community—time to reflect, share, and co-create with other educators
• Examine engagement indicators, including attendance, behavior, and MiVoice data
• Participate in roundtable discussions and collaborative planning
• Network with colleagues committed to advancing student engagement

Event Details:

Secondary Student Engagement Symposium
Target Audience: All secondary educators (grades 6-12) – classroom teachers, administrators, counselors, support staff, and curriculum specialists
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: GVSU’s Loosemore Auditorium
Cost: $50 (includes lunch and free parking)

Join the Movement: From Insight to Impact

Students are clear about what they need: meaningful relationships, relevant learning, and spaces where their voices matter. Now it’s on us to act—designing classrooms and school cultures that reflect what we’ve heard.

Join us on June 12 to participate in this important conversation. Whether you’re just beginning this journey or have been championing student voice for years, your perspective matters.

Let’s keep students at the center. Let’s move forward—together.

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References

Basis Policy Research. (2023, October). MI Student Voice Perception Survey: What contributes to welcoming school environments? Kent Intermediate School District. https://mistudentvoice.org/

Christenson, S. L., Reschly, A. L., & Wylie, C. (Eds.). (2022). Handbook of research on student engagement (2nd ed.). Springer.

#StudentVoiceMatters #SecondaryEngagement #MIEducation #KentISDpd #WeLeadLearning #Relationships #Learning #Opportunties #Innovation #Excellence

This blog post was written by Bridget Rieth, Early Literacy Coach for Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, T&L Marketing and Communication Specialist for Kent ISD.