The document provides an overview of a presentation about gathering student feedback using the YouthTruth survey. It discusses: 1) The goals of providing an overview of the YouthTruth project, presenting a case study of one school's experience, and having a question and answer session. 2) Details about the YouthTruth survey, including that it collects student feedback on engagement, relationships, culture, goals, rigor, and life outside school. 3) A case study of Miami Beach Senior High School which used the YouthTruth data to identify areas for improvement, such as helping all students plan for after high school and increasing rigor.

1. Gathering Student Feedback About What's Working and What's Not

2. Goals For Today Provide an Overview of the YouthTruth Project Case Study: One School’s Experience Question & Answer 2

3. 3

4. 4 Audiences Served by YouthTruth Philanthropic Funders School Networks and Districts High Schools

5. Breadth of Schools Served to Date WASHINGTON NORTH MAINE MONTANA MINNESOTA DAKOTA VT OREGON NH WISCONSIN MASS SOUTH IDAHO DAKOTA NEW YORK MICHIGAN WYOMING RI CONN IOWA PENN NEW NEBRASKA States with participating YouthTruth Schools JERSEY NEVADA OHIO DELAWARE INDIANA UTAH ILLINOIS MARYLAND COLORADO WV WASHINGTON, DC KANSAS VIRGINIA MISSOURI KENTUCKY CALIFORNIA NORTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE Over 20,000 students from 86 schools have taken the YouthTruth survey. A mix of charter, themed, early college, alternative, and traditional schools from twelve unique networks and districts across the country have participated. ARKANSAS ARIZONA OKLAHOMA SOUTH CAROLINA NEW MEXICO MISS GEORGIA ALABAMA TEXAS LOUISIANA FLORIDA 5 5

7. A focus on school leaders and students

9. A Focus on School Leaders and Students 8

10. Actionable Feedback that Drives Change 9

14. Case Study Miami Beach Senior High School Dr. Rosann Sidener, Principal 12

15. MBSH Demographics 13

16. MBSH – Since 2007 14 Raised school performance grade 104 points Increased AP participation from 625 to 1364 students Accepted as an IB World School Applied for Federal Magnet Assistance Program Grant Implemented AVID Completed construction of a new facility Redesigned into three schools-within-a-school Approximately 25% of MBSH students currently attend academies Maintained successful NAF academies

17. MBSH All Academy Structure 15 Academy of Marine and Environmental Science Scholars Academy (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) Academy of Visual and Performing Arts Academy of Communication and Digital Media Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Academy of Information Technology School of Technical Arts School of Liberal Arts School of Creative Arts

18. Nagging Issues 16 Miami Beach High School Poor Graduation Rate (64%) Lack of engagement among students not in established academies Attendance (92%) High class failure rates in 9th grade, ESL and SPED

19. Why Another Survey? Perceptual data to complement other achievement data Moving from Technical Change to Adaptive Change A powerful tool for advancing the vision What ARE they thinking? 17

20. The YouthTruth Survey 18 Student Engagement with School Relationships with Adults in School School Culture and Attitudes Future Goals and Aspirations Rigor of Classes and Instruction Life Outside of High School

21. Future Goals and Aspirations

22. Future Goals and Aspirations

23. Future Goals and Aspirations

25. “The school almost does nothing for you. You are the one who has to make your own goals and take care of your things. You are the one who has to stand up and say, ‘I’m going to change and do my best…’ If you graduate, it’s not because of school, it's because the student initiates the action and can succeed.”

26. “This school has helped me in a lot of ways, this school also opened up a lot of doors for me in life regarding my personal life and my education.”

28. Rigor of Classes and Instruction

29. Time Spent on Homework Outside of Class for All Classes More than 3 hours 2 hours-3 hours 1.5 hours-2 hours 1 hour-1.5 hours Percent of Respondents 30 minutes- 1 hour Less than 30 minutes None Average of All Schools Miami Beach

30. Types of Classes Taken by Respondents Percent of Respondents

32. “The normal classes are way too easy! Colleges look for students that have good grades but not in normal classes but in challenging classes! My classes are way too easy and boring. What I’m learning in 9th grade, I’ve learned it before.”

33. “Most of my teachers apply themselves with an enthusiasm about their subject which is contagious, and this really helps me as a student to gain interest and do well in the subject they teach.”

34. “In my school they provide us with AP classes which are college level courses which prepares me for college. And because of this I feel like I'm already a college student and not in high school.”

37. Increasing the rigor of curriculum and instruction3. What next steps should Dr. Sidener take to respond to MBSH’s YouthTruth data? How could she work with her staff to address the issues raised?

38. How MBSH Is Responding to YouthTruth Data 29 April May August-2011 March February Shared data with leadership: administrators, counselors, Curriculum Council, student leaders Analyzed it against a research - based framework We will implement our plan Discussed with CEP staff in a group conference call Completed a gap analysis and narrowed school improvement focus to four areas We will repeat the process for continuous improvement June Discussed it within the school. Went through stages of loss (denial, anger, acceptance, action) Developed an action plan

39. Four Areas Identified for Improvement at MBSH 30

40. For Additional Information: YouthTruth Website, www.youthtruthsurvey.orgValerie Threlfall, Director, YouthTruth Project valeriet@effectivephilanthropy.org(415) 391-3070 ext. 136Rosann Sidener, Principal, Miami Beach Senior High Schoolrsidener@dadeschools.net 31 Questions?