The Speak Up Research Initiative
Together, let’s create an education system that meets the needs of all learners. Your voice matters in transforming education.
What is the Speak Up Research Initiative?
The Speak Up Research Initiative is the largest collection of authentic stakeholder voices on key educational issues in the digital age. Since 2003, over 6.2 million K-12 stakeholders have participated in the Speak Up surveys sharing their authentic ideas on the use of technology in school and other new learning models.
How does it work?
Project Tomorrow provides schools with a suite of online surveys to better understand the views of their students, families, teachers, and administrators. Participation in Speak Up is 100% free to all schools in the US.
Why do schools participate?
School districts are using Speak Up data to revise professional development for teachers, expand digital equity, meet state reporting requirements, and enhance advocacy efforts. More than 30,000 schools have used their local Speak Up data to make meaningful educational changes.
What is the impact?
The Speak Up Research Initiative annually reports on the nationally aggregated findings to inform federal and state policies and discussions on education trends. The national Speak Up reports, infographics and briefings are regularly used by policymakers to develop new initiatives, funding and programs that enhance K-12 education.
20 Years of Growth
Speak Up was established in 2003 as an outcome of a national AmeriCorps program developed and managed by NetDay (the predecessor organization to Project Tomorrow) in five highly challenged communities. The AmeriCorps program focused on the “digital disconnect” between how students wanted to use technology for learning, and how their teachers were using technology in the classroom. The first Speak Up online data collection process was funded by a small grant from the US Department of Education to inform the development of the National Education Technology Plan.
Since 2003, Speak Up has
- Collected data from more than 6.2 million participants
- Reached more than 30,000 schools
- Provided information on trends to national, state and local policymakers
Survey Development
The development of the Speak Up survey is a year long process. We are constantly on the lookout for the current topics of most interest to school and district leadership . We also consult with thought leaders, policy researchers, state education agency professionals, nonprofit and association leaders, practicing teachers and administrators, parents and students. Our “wide net” approach is the best way to ensure the ongoing relevancy of Speak Up data.
Use of Speak Up Data
Educators use Speak Up data to
- Plan current and future programs
- Understand the different views and needs of their stakeholders
- Inform policy discussions at the local, state and national level to gain support for educational improvement.
All data collected is confidential and no single individual can be identified from any submitted entry.
Each year, the Speak Up Research Initiative asks K-12 students, parents and educators about the role of technology for learning in and out of school.
Project Tomorrow salutes the following innovative companies and organizations for their support of Speak Up 2023-24.
