White Papers

Student Voice Today: How to ensure policies and requirements meet current needs of students

As of 2026, more than half of all U.S. states require K-12 schools to address media literacy, A.I., or devices, and legislation keeps outrunning schools’ readiness to meet it well. At the heart of nearly every requirement is an assumption that writing and enforcing rules is enough, but a mandate can require that a topic be covered without ensuring it is covered well. The piece most often left out is student voice, and it is a practical necessity, because when students help shape their learning, they show stronger agency, higher engagement, better grades, and better attendance.