Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit. Schools and districts often collect climate and culture data but struggle to turn results into action. Too often, adults adjust practices without youth input, limiting impact and reinforcing inequities. This interactive workshop equips leaders with routines that move from listening to acting alongside students. Participants will practice two steps: (1) surfacing and reframing adult assumptions about student data, and (2) translating student perspectives into concrete recommendations for practice and policy. Together, these steps create a repeatable approach leaders can adapt in their own systems to bridge the gap between data, youth experience, and decision-making. Drawing on case studies of student–adult design teams addressing cellphone use, attendance, and belonging, participants will leave with tools and templates to embed youth partnership in their own work and ensure student voice drives equitable, sustainable improvement.
About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our
Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
