Speak Up: Congressional Briefing
From Engagement to Learning:
2024 Congressional Briefing on Closing the Gap Between Student Aspirations and Classroom Practices
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Presented by:
- Dr. Julie Evans, CEO, Project Tomorrow
- Dr. Lu Settles Young, Vice Chair, Kentucky Board of Education, Professor, University of Kentucky College of Education, Former Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer
- A panel of high school students
In this year’s Speak Up Congressional Briefing, Dr. Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow, shared the 2023-24 national research findings collected from over 100,000 K-12 students, classroom educators, administrators, and parents and families nationwide about technology use in schools, student engagement, parents’ concerns, teacher needs, and even AI policies.
Most notably, the Briefing included a panel of high school students from across the United States, offering their authentic, no-spin views on learning today, and their recommendations for closing the gap between students’ aspirations for more effective classroom learning and current instructional practices.
About the Speak Up Congressional Briefing
Each year, Project Tomorrow presents Speak Up results to a wide audience of K-12 stakeholders including national and state Departments of Education, researchers, media, and K-12 school and district leaders. The first Speak Up Congressional briefing, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Iskason (R-GA) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) on March 24, 2004 was held to release “Voices and Views of Today’s Tech-Savvy Students,” and announce SpeakUp Day for Teachers.
The first briefing featured remarks by Rep. Isakson and Sen. Stabenow, NetDay Board of Directors Member John Gage, and Senior Advisor at the Department of Education, Helen Soule. Middle and high school students who had participated in SpeakUp Day 2003 took part in a panel discussion. Mark Feidler, Chief Staff Officer, BellSouth, announced support for SpeakUp Day for Teachers.
Since 2020, the Congressional Briefing has been conducted virtually allowing for broader participation. We thank our partner, edWeb, for hosting this annual event.
Congressional Briefing Archives
- 2023 Speak Up Congressional Briefing
- 2022 Speak Up Congressional Briefing
- 2021 Speak Up Virtual Congressional Briefing
- 2020 Speak Up Virtual Congressional Briefing
- 2019 Speak Up Congressional Briefing
- 2018 Speak Up Congressional Briefing
- 2016 Speak Up Congressional Briefing
- 2015 Speak Up Congressional Briefing
- 2014 Speak Up Congressional Briefing (adult audience results)
- 2014 Speak Up Congressional Briefing (K-12 student audience results)
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 2024-25.
