2017 Annual Conference

It has been said that in order to touch the mind, you must first touch the heart. Schools will not succeed in closing the achievement gap that continues to challenge educators until they ensure that there is no participation gap. Participation entails students being connected to their learning environment and having a desire to be at school, a hunger to learn, and a willingness to engage actively in the learning process. Ray McNulty will explain how educators can help students acquire the three components of participation: personal worth, active engagement, and purpose. This work requires the use of both quantitative and qualitative data; the latter can be obtained through administering the We Surveys for students and staff. Closing the participation gap is the first step in improving the achievement of all students.