Transcend Launches Tools and Resources to for School Communities to Better Understand Student Experiences

STUDENT CONSERVATION INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LEAPS TOWARD EQUITABLE EDUCATION 

New York, NY  October 4, 2021— Transcend, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to support communities to create and spread extraordinary, equitable learning environments, is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative: Conversations with Kids: Walking the Road to Reinvention. This initiative allows school and systems leaders, educators, caregivers, and parents to access an online survey as well as conversation guide to better understand the student school experience and then, using the Leaps for Equitable 21st Century Education, reflect on the results to fuel progress. 

“School communities are facing the second year of a pandemic,” shares Jenee Henry Wood, Head of Learning at Transcend. “Educators are engaged in tireless work to resume normalcy, and yet we also know that school  wasn’t working for many young people even prior to COVID-19. Now is a real moment to consider what the future of learning in our country can be and we believe the first step is asking students.”  

Through this initiative, school communities can start conversations with young people and make meaning of the results. To support this, Transcend has launched a resource grounded in the  Leaps for Equitable 21st-Century Learning, essential shifts in young people’s schooling experiences that unlock the infinite potential of every child.

By visiting the platform, school and system leaders, educators and caregivers can 1) Use the conversation guide to talk to students or 2)  Survey groups of students with an online tool and receive confidential results. Next, adults will use the reflection tool to assess their school community’s progress toward more equitable, extraordinary student experiences. 

“We believe in the importance of listening deeply to students as part of the design process,” shares Transcend co-founder Jeff Wetzler. “But it doesn’t stop with listening – that’s just the first step in collaborative design. From there, schools can use this information in partnership with their young people to drive change forward. The preliminary take-aways from our pilot with 1600 students has given us a window into the insights young people can unlock as we reimagine education and we are eager to share learnings with the sector as more schools participate.” 

Visit here to learn more: https://www.transcendeducation.org/conversations-with-kids

About Transcend

Transcend is a national nonprofit that supports school communities to create and spread extraordinary, equitable learning environments. The organization was founded on a belief that we must reimagine schooling, using a community-driven approach, so all children can realize their infinite potential. Transcend pursues its mission by partnering directly with schools on design journeys while also sharing powerful models, tools and insights across the sector. To date, Transcend has worked directly with hundreds of schools and leaders in over 30 states, and has influenced thousands more. Ultimately, Transcend strives to fuel significant leaps in education so all young people can thrive in and transform the world.

For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.