Cultivating a sense of belonging to spark students’ enthusiasm for learning

Two years after schools returned to in-person learning, students are struggling to meet math and English standards on statewide tests. Their mental health is also suffering and they’re missing lots of days of school.

EdSource brought together a panel of experts to discuss what schools and districts can do to re-engage students, and how teachers can energize and learn from each other. There was one very strong theme — the need for students to feel like they belong at school.

Guests:

• Adalberto Hernández, Principal, George Washington Elementary School, Madera Unified School District
• Chris Collins, Data and assessment coordinator, Cajon Valley Union School District
• Yolie Flores, President and CEO, Families in Schools
• Heather Hough, executive director, Policy Analysis for California Education
• John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District
• John Fensterwald, Editor-at-large, EdSource

Read more from EdSource and watch the roundtable:

• Boosting student success after Covid is a team effort, panel says
• Flat test scores leave California far behind pre-Covid levels of achievement

Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.