Youth Engagement and Youth Engagement and School CultureSchool Culture

Opportunities for Community Opportunities for Community SchoolsSchools

Evidence about why Evidence about why youth engagement youth engagement mattersmatters Promotes learning and achievement at Promotes learning and achievement at

high levelshigh levels Builds & sustains students’ attachment Builds & sustains students’ attachment

to schoolto school Supports pro-social values & Supports pro-social values &

community involvementcommunity involvement Reinforces other positive youth Reinforces other positive youth

development outcomesdevelopment outcomes Increases likelihood of reaching Increases likelihood of reaching

productive adulthoodproductive adulthood

School culture: What school School culture: What school “feels like” for students “feels like” for students and teachers:and teachers:

Attitudes about students and their Attitudes about students and their potential– both teachers’ and students’ potential– both teachers’ and students’ expectationsexpectations

Norms of professional practice– Norms of professional practice– teachers’ responsibilitiesteachers’ responsibilities

Relationships between and among Relationships between and among students and teachers—quality, students and teachers—quality, frequencyfrequency

Distressing reports about Distressing reports about school culture and youth school culture and youth engagement:engagement:

Many teachers say “I can’t teach these Many teachers say “I can’t teach these kids,” “They don’t want to learn,” kids,” “They don’t want to learn,” “Kids’ problems outside school make it “Kids’ problems outside school make it hard for them to learn”hard for them to learn”

Many students say: “school is boring,” Many students say: “school is boring,” “nobody cares,” “I just can’t do it.”“nobody cares,” “I just can’t do it.”

Many parents say: “I don’t feel Many parents say: “I don’t feel welcome,” “I don’t know how to relate welcome,” “I don’t know how to relate to teachers,” “I am overwhelmed.”to teachers,” “I am overwhelmed.”

What elements of school What elements of school culture support student culture support student engagement ?engagement ?

Each student is known as a “whole child”Each student is known as a “whole child” Students feel safe—emotionally and Students feel safe—emotionally and

physicallyphysically Varied opportunities exist for students to feel Varied opportunities exist for students to feel

competent and valuedcompetent and valued Challenging instruction and support to meet Challenging instruction and support to meet

high standardshigh standards High expectations and on-going feedbackHigh expectations and on-going feedback Families are connected and involvedFamilies are connected and involved Teachers’ professional learning communities Teachers’ professional learning communities

& norms of reflective practice& norms of reflective practice

How can schools create a How can schools create a culture of engagement?culture of engagement?

Community-as-text– making learning Community-as-text– making learning relevant to experience, culture and goalsrelevant to experience, culture and goals

Partnerships with community-based Partnerships with community-based organizations and resources– increased organizations and resources– increased resources for learning and youth resources for learning and youth development development

On-going opportunities for teachers to On-going opportunities for teachers to learn about their students—their learn about their students—their academic progress and personal academic progress and personal circumstancescircumstances