Centering Student Perspective in Pursuit of Equity: Upending Engagement Assessments to Increase Diverse Learner Engagement

• In Event: Achieving Equity Through Inclusivity: Measuring the Perspectives of Students, Staff, and Parents

Abstract

Narratives surrounding K-12 student engagement preceded COVID-19, and while new considerations have entered our consciousness, our current landscape feels more familiar than obscure. With state and philanthropic funding, we were invited to evaluate a project that seeks to overcome student engagement challenges for students across 14 schools and developed assessments/tools that depart from traditional, behavioral aspects of engagement. We share the development of three assessments and how they hold promise as innovative approaches that improve program evaluation and student assessment. As external evaluators seeking to address/disrupt bias and foster culturally sustaining, deep learning, evaluation findings will also be presented from the 2021-2022 school year as well as our research, considerations, and experiences in developing the instruments themselves.

Authors

• Catherine A Wolfe Bornhorst, Born Ingenuity, LLC
  Presenting Author

• Chelsea Henkel, Apex Evaluation
  Presenting Author