The Massachusetts State Student Advisory Council (SSAC) convened for their second retreat of the year in Everett, MA on Wednesday, September 18th. The purpose of this retreat (billed as a “Data Party”) was to support the group in analyzing state educational and public health data. The 23 students – representing all five Regional Councils – built data literacy skills, identified strengths and concerns in the state data, and considered how to address their priority concerns through the actions of the SSAC and the Regional Councils. 

Using a Youth Participatory Action Research framework, SSAC members began their data review by exploring how their lived experiences shape their perceptions. In an interactive activity, members were prompted to estimate the percentage of Massachusetts youth who answered a particular way on different survey questions drawn from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. For example, members were asked to estimate the “Percentage of students who got 8 or more hours of sleep on an average school night.” They then lined up on a spectrum (from 0% to 100%) around the room to indicate what they thought the data would say. After some conversation, the number was revealed (24% in this example), with the actual data confirming some members’ intuition and challenging others. The ensuing dialogue allowed the group to reflect on the degree to which any one person’s individual context may or may not be reflected in the data. 

The SSAC examined state Youth Risk Behavior Survey data and school absenteeism data on a closer level to identify their priority strengths and concerns. Of particular importance was viewing the data disaggregated by different aspects of identity, including race and ethnicity, age, and gender. Examining the data this closely reveals disparities between different groups that may not be apparent in the topline numbers. In small groups, the SSAC members and adult advisors closely reviewed 30 different data points and identified both strengths and concerns.

 Among the group’s top concerns were the percentage of Massachusetts students who: 

  • were chronically absent (absent 18 days or more) last school year.
  • were electronically bullied
  • considered, planned, or attempted suicide
  • reported that their mental health was most of the time or always not good
  • did not go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school
  • reported there is at least one teacher or other adult in their school that they can talk to if they have a problem

After identifying and discussing these priority concerns, the members gathered in action groups based on three larger themes present in this data: School Safety, Mental Health, and Connectedness to School. The groups considered root causes that might influence these statistics and began to consider how to plan for action to address the concerns. This work will carry on in subsequent retreats at the state and regional level through the school year. 

In the spirit of a “Data Party”, the work of the day was accompanied by opportunities for the members and advisors of the SSAC to connect, eat, and laugh together. Leaving the day, members said they felt excited, energized, optimistic, connected, and motivated to move the work forward.

The SSAC Data Party was planned in partnership between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), UP for Learning, and the Massachusetts Service Alliance. Youth and adults from UP for Learning and the SSAC facilitated the day.