By: the AWSL Student Voice   

and Advisory Council

The AWSL Student Voice is comprised of high school students from throughout Washington State. Students shared their thoughts and insights as we prepare to enter the 2021 – 2022 school year.

What do you want educators/leaders to know about supporting students to attend and engage in school this coming year?

• "It's important for educators and leaders to check-in (especially one on one) with all students- even if nothing comes out of a check-in, it will still make a student feel valued and cared for."
• "It's going to be a big transition for everyone- we all need grace, but NOT to go back to normal. Normal was not good enough; we need to keep reimagining what quality education can look like armored with what we've learned the past year."

What do you want adults to know about partnering with and listening to students?

• "If you truly want to work well with students, you need an open mind. Unfortunately, cookie-cutter programs do not work, and many students have different needs."
• "I want adults to know that we students need your patience. This transition will be a struggle for both students and the administration, no matter how it's done. But, if you have patience with us, we will reciprocate it."
• "Students might still feel affected by the pandemic even if other students aren't. So encouraging the individual creative student right now, I think, should be a priority over mass deciding what students think instead of talking to them."

What else do you want educators/leaders to know?

• "Just be yourself! Students will appreciate getting to know you."
• "Students are craving to learn more about one another and our world right now."
• "This is going to be a weird year, but y'all have got this! Thank you for everything!"
• "Open communication with students can go a long ways."
• "If educators can make it clear that they are listening to student feedback (i.e., asking for feedback early and implementing it quickly), it does wonders to build trust with students."

Check out this resource, Speak Out! Listen Up! for ideas and protocols for learning with and from youth.

King County Education Reengagement Outreach Campaign 2021!

King County Superior Court Becca Program has partnered with local school districts and community partners to help student get enrolled before the school year starts.

Community partners Unleash the Brilliance and Safe Futures are reaching out to students to assist them to connect with their school district and help students enroll in the right educational program for them. Find out more here.

Check out this Addressing Student Reengagement in the Time of COVID-19 Resource Guide to support your reengagement efforts.

What Attendance Data Should We Look at Before School Begins?

Start the year off by identifying the following students who can be key informants as you dig into the reasons students are absent in your school:

• Students that were withdrawn last year, but are still living in the district
• Students that are expected to return at the beginning of the school year, but do not attend in the first few days of school
• Students with severe chronic absence last year (missing 20% or more of their school days), by student demographics and program
• Students with chronic absence last year (missing 10% or more of their school days), by student demographics and program

Guiding Questions for Teams:

• What proactive measures can we put in place to reach out and support and engage these students and families now before school starts?
• Which student groups have higher absences?
• What do we know about what is contributing to our students absences?
• How would we find out more?
• See this Attendance Works compilation of resources that can help you dig deeper to collect feedback from your students and families who are experiencing absences.
• More data on why students are absent can be found in the COVID 19 student survey. See below...