Youth Speak for Themselves: Youth Voices on Revolutionizing the Quality of Education in Newark

• In Event: Exploring Tensions in Research on Chronic Absenteeism

Abstract

1. Objectives or purposes

The goal of this youth-led participatory action research project was to better understand why young people in the city of Newark may be absent, or disconnect entirely, from school. In 2021, more than 100,000 young people disconnected from education in New Jersey (Lewis, 2022). The goal of this project was for young people to design and facilitate a series of focus groups to identify the root causes of chronic absenteeism, and share recommendations to prevent disconnection and support student reengagement.

2. Perspective(s) or theoretical framework

We adopt a lens that young people are subject matter experts in their lived experiences and have the knowledge and tools to recommend changes based on those experiences. Young people experiencing disconnection are deeply aware of the multiple factors, both within and beyond the walls of a school building, that influence absenteeism (Lewis & Powers, 2024). As such, the ecological systems theoretical framework underlies this project. Due to the adultism young people face, it is even more essential that youth are given space to express the root causes of their absenteeism and disconnection, so key stakeholders can incorporate them in their change efforts.

3. Methods, techniques, or modes of inquiry

This project employs a youth-led participatory action research approach. Ten youth advocates from the Youth Policy Advisory Board received training from Cortico and the MIT Center for Constructive Communication to design, facilitate and analyze focus groups with other Newark young people, ages 14 through 24 years old. Through social media outreach and strategic partnerships with community-based organizations in Newark, young people were able to conduct 33 focus groups with 170 other Newark youth. Audio from the focus groups was recorded, uploaded into the Cortico tool, Fora, which was utilized by youth advocates to create a codebook and identify trends in the root causes of absenteeism for young people in Newark.

4. Data sources, evidence, objects, or materials

Data sources include transcripts and audio recordings from all youth focus groups. Youth advocates conducted 33 focus groups with 170 youth participants from across all 5 wards of Newark.

5. Results and/or substantiated conclusions or warrants for arguments/point of view

The overarching conclusion of this project is that a positive school culture is essential to preventing absenteeism and disconnection. Youth identified contributing factors to a negative school culture: lack of belonging, racial and ethnic tensions, lack of mental health supports, lack of academic supports, and unfair discipline policies. External factors also impacted youth’s ability to attend school, or to focus and actively participate while in the school building (Blinded for Submission Review, 2024).

6. Scientific or scholarly significance of the study or work

The significance of this work lies in its potential to reveal the nuanced root causes of absenteeism and disconnection, from young people actually experiencing it. The goal of this project is for stakeholders to consider the expressed needs of Newark students when designing interventions and proposing policy changes to improve the educational experiences of youth in the city.

Authors

• Atiya Johnson, Newark Opportunity Youth Network

• Emilie Stewart, Newark Opportunity Youth Network