Since 2014, the Research Alliance has been collaborating closely with the NYC Department of Education on its annual School Survey, one of the largest survey efforts in the nation. As part of this work, the Research Alliance has met with groups of parents, teachers, and students across the City to collect their input on the survey.

The Coro Youth Leadership Academy—a year-long leadership training program for NYC public high school students from across the five boroughs—was a natural partner for our student focus groups. All YLA participants serve as representatives on the NYC DOE’s Borough Student Advisory Councils (BSACs), which represent students’ voices in DOE decision-making. In the summer of 2015, Research Alliance staff members met with about 35 YLA participants to hear their feedback on individual survey questions as well as their impressions of the student survey overall.

After that meeting, Research Alliance researchers Lisa Merrill and Camille Lafayette decided to continue the partnership with the YLA students. “We were very impressed by the YLA students, and excited by their eagerness to participate in the survey design process,” Ms. Lafayette said. “Their thoughtful feedback led to a number of concrete improvements to the student version of the DOE School Survey.” Over the 2015-2016 school year, Dr. Merrill and Ms. Lafayette worked with the YLA students, exploring survey design and analysis, and learning about how NYC Department of Education policy discussions incorporate youth perspectives. The productive partnership resulted in a number of changes to the student version of the DOE School Survey, and became a great source of pride for participating students.