Students Gather at CSU to Create Change in their Schools through Research

Nearly 400 middle and high school students from more than 35 school districts across Ohio gathered March 11 at Cleveland State University’s (CSU) Student Center for a shared purpose: that’s to turn their voices into meaningful change in their schools through research.

The event, a joint session of the Student Leadership Research Collaborative (SLRC) and the First Ring Student Leadership Institute (FRSLI), brought together young researchers engaged in Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR).  It’s a model that empowers students to study issues in their own schools and develop evidence-based solutions.

Now in its eighth year, the annual collaboration gives students the tools to conduct authentic research on issues affecting their learning environments, from school culture to emerging technologies. The gathering provided an opportunity for participants from across the state to refine their projects, share ideas, and network with peers doing similar work.

Throughout the day, students participated in breakout sessions tailored to their experience levels. First-year students focused on developing the foundations of their research and improving their presentation skills, while more experienced Year II and III students explored advanced topics such as civic discourse/community partnerships and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

The students’ research is not theoretical. Each project is designed with the district leaders in their home communities as the target audience.  Students will present their findings and recommendations directly to school administrators and policymakers this May with the goal of turning their research into actionable improvements within their schools.

Many of the Northeast Ohio participants meet monthly at CSU as part of the FRSLI, while students from Central and Southern Ohio convene regularly in Columbus through the OSU SLRC.

The programs were co-founded by Dr. Adam Voight, associate professor in the School of Education and Counseling (SEC) and director of the Center for Urban Education (CUE) in the CSU Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, in collaboration with the Educational Service Centers (ESC) from Northeast and Central Ohio. Dr. Voight, Dr. Keith Bell from The Ohio State University, and Bill Wagner, director of the ESC First Ring Schools Collaborative, drive programming for the OSU SLRC and FRSLI.

The key facilitation team also includes Dr. Rosalinda Godinez, a post-doctoral research fellow in the CUE; Dr. Marquan Jones, a doctoral student in CSU’s Urban Education Ph.D. program; Dr. Maurice Stevens from The Ohio State University; and student leadership support from Donald Wayne McLeod.

Students participating in the advanced sessions analyzed survey data they collected from peers about AI’s role in education and began translating their findings into potential policy recommendations for school districts.

“This is your research,” Dr. Voight said to the students, emphasizing the importance of their work. “The opportunities are unlimited. You have collected the largest existing data set on students’ perspective on AI in schools anywhere. You’re in a pretty cool place to be in research.”

Through research, collaboration, and leadership, these students are learning and demonstrating that meaningful educational change can begin with their voices.  When students are equipped with research skills and leadership opportunities, young people begin to see themselves not just as learners, but as changemakers within their own school systems.