YT in the News Archives

YouthTruth launches new report: Students Weigh In, Part 4

January 31, 2022Jay Kustka

Fall 2021 marked a wholly unusual back-to-school season. As America’s youth packed up their Chromebooks and returned to in-person schooling, we invited students from districts across the country to reflect on their experience through YouthTruth surveys.We are asking students a new timely question this year: “The COVID pandemic has changed learning for many students. Is there...

What We Loved About 2021

January 6, 2022Jay Kustka

Dear Friend, As we start this new year, we are both humbled and inspired to be working alongside our partners to elevate student and stakeholder voice across the country. Amidst the acute challenges of early 2022, we are inspired by these highlights from 2021 and the YouthTruth community’s fierce commitment to listen and learn from...

YouthTruth launches new report, Spotlight on Belonging & Peer Collaboration

October 26, 2021Jay Kustka

As you may know, YouthTruth has been studying how students’ experiences of school and learning have been changing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our most recent report analyzed student survey data from over half a million students across the country. There were so many incredible insights uncovered through the analysis of that Students Weigh In, Part III report that we could not,...

YouthTruth hosts national webinar of Students Weigh In, Part III Findings

August 16, 2021Jay KustkaResource, Students Weigh In, Webinar

On Friday, August 13th, YouthTruth hosted a national discussion of the findings from the third and final Students Weigh In report. Over 200 education, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders RSVP’d to learn about the findings and hear from an expert panel about how the data can help throughout the 2021-22 school year and beyond.

Listening to API & Other Youth to Learn Through a Pandemic

June 16, 2021Jay KustkaAAPI, API, Learning from Student Voice

On Wednesday, June 16, 2021 YouthTruth joined the Grantmakers for Thriving Youth webinar "AAPI Youth on Safety, Belonging, and Thriving" to present new insights into the experiences of Asian Youth from our Students Weigh In data set. Students Weigh In is a 3-part report that has shared insights from half a million secondary students in 952...

Leading Through Listening: Student & Community Voices in Sonoma County

May 25, 2021Jay KustkaResources, Sonoma County

In January 2021, YouthTruth administered surveys across 56 schools from 10 Sonoma County school districts. The effort resulted in hearing from nearly 30,000 student, parent and guardian, and school staff community members on topics like, academic challenge, school culture, emotional and mental health. Learn More

Funding available but time is running out

May 20, 2021Jay KustkaCARES Act, COVID, Funding, Survey Window

Did you know that CARES act funding, as well as other federal and state-specific funds, can cover the cost of YouthTruth’s student, family, and/or staff surveys and follow-up professional development? If student voice is a priority in your district connect with us to lock in your YouthTruth survey dates and rates for next year. Our...

Learning from Student Perspectives – CASEL & YouthTruth

April 23, 2021Jay KustkaCASEL, SEL, Webinar

On April 23, 2021 YouthTruth joined CASEL to share findings from student voice surveys take before and during the pandemic, as well as discussing how this data is informing efforts in school communities. In order to create equitable learning environments that fully support the social, emotional and academic learning needs of students, we need to...

Students crushed by stress, depression are back in class. Here’s how schools meet their needs

April 11, 2021Jay KustkaNews, usa today

By Alia Wong, Education Enterprise Reporter, USA Today A youth mental health crisis was percolating for years. Rates of anxiety and depression had been on the rise. In 2017, suicide became the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 through 24. Then came COVID-19. Americans of all ages say the pandemic has taken a toll on their mental health, but...

We Have No Idea What This Year Has Been Like for Our Kids

April 7, 2021Jay Kustkaeducation post, News, Sonya Heisters

By Sonya Heisters Deputy Director, YouthTruth One year ago, my now-kindergartener left his bustling and diverse transitional kindergarten classroom with sensory learning areas designed for academic and social skills development to set up shop in our basement laundry room for “zoom school.” Sitting to his left and right are no longer other curious children, but...

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