We believe in creating equitable schools.

Student councils at Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, York and Lyons Township high schools sponsor student activities, raise money for charities and sometimes select a liasion to serve on the school board, though they don't always have a voice on school policies.

How do young people really experience their own learning? It’s easy for educators to make assumptions—but often we can find more authentic answers by listening closely to what students say. That’s what sparked WKCD’s new “Just Listen” series of video clips, in which high school students speak directly to viewers about teaching and learning. Averaging one minute in length, they convey kids’ thinking in a way that’s easy to share and talk about with others.

When schools find ways to welcome student opinions — to partner with students “as stakeholders in their own learning,” especially at the secondary level — they do more than equip students with tools for lifelong success. They also wind up creating programs and policies that are more effective at meeting the schools’ own goals for supporting young people in their healthy development.

Chicago’s student voice committees are not your grandma’s student council. Actually, they probably aren’t your student council. They don’t plan prom, they don’t pick themed days for spirit week, they don’t run campaigns to get elected. Instead, these students conduct surveys and hold town halls and interview their peers and teachers to figure out how to make their schools better. And in the best-case scenarios, they get the adults in the building to pay attention.

Student leaders who meet with college and university administrators regularly and have a voice on governing boards feel much more effective, according to new research measuring students’ perceived influence on campus.

What else? This week’s episode main feature is a LIVE podcast discussion on raising the student voice, including what we can do to bring student’s into decision making whilst improving their communication skills.