Teachers and school leaders across the country are working night and day to improve student performance. Current plans to reform schools often ignore that fact that schools are about more than bricks, mortar, structures, or programs. Schools are about people—students, parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, and community members—and their relationships. These relationships form the culture—attitudes, beliefs, expectations, mindsets—that define a school.

High-performing schools have learned that the foundation of their success rests upon the quality of these relationships. Researchers continually remind us that the number one factor in raising student academic performance is the teacher-student relationship. Schools can have great teachers, quality lesson plans, outstanding leadership, and the best resources, but without high-quality relationships, learning will suffer.

Discussions about school improvement must address strategies to increase personalization. We all want our children to attend schools that are warm, inviting, safe, and orderly, and it is our responsibility to ensure that other peoples’ children have that same opportunity.

However, according to the results of a 2008 national survey, we have work to do:

• Sixty-two percent (62%) of the students surveyed agreed with the statement “School is a welcoming and friendly place.”
• Twenty-nine percent (29%) of the students surveyed said they do not feel comfortable going to the cafeteria for lunch.
• Just under half (49%) of all 6-12 students reported they are proud of their school.
• 33% of students surveyed agreed bullying is a problem in their school.
• Forty-four percent (44%) of those students surveyed believe teachers care about their problems and feelings.

A Free Personalization Resource

The 2008 survey is being updated in 2010 and schools across the country are invited to participate. The Million Voice Project is a public interest initiative that is gathering and analyzing the perceptions of 1 million students, grades 6-12, about school. This student voice project will be the largest single initiative to document and analyze student engagement and to highlight the related variations in academic performance in American schools.  This initiative is being underwritten by the Pearson Foundation, and is being supported by a number of national education organizations including NASSP, CCSSO, NEA, and AASA.

Schools may register between August 16 and December 17. Administration (when students start taking the survey after the school has registered them) begins September 13. Once all of a school’s teachers have administered the survey, the Million Voice School Report will be emailed to the school within three business days.