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Speak Up Project
What is the Speak Up Research Project?
A project of Project Tomorrow, the Speak Up Research Project is the largest collection of authentic stakeholder voices on key educational issues in the digital age. Since 2003, over 6.3 million K-12 stakeholders have participated in Speak Up surveys, sharing their insights on technology use in schools and other innovative learning models.
How does it work?
Speak Up offers a suite of online surveys that schools and districts can use to gather local data and better understand their students, families, teachers, and administrators. Participation is free, and schools and districts also receive national comparative data. All collected data is confidential, and individual participants cannot be identified.
What are the benefits of participating?
Over 30,000 schools have leveraged their Speak Up data to plan current and future programs, understand stakeholder needs, and inform policy discussions at the local, state, and national levels. Learn more by reading case studies from districts that have used Speak Up data to drive meaningful change and explore advice from Speak Up Heroes.
What is the impact?
The Speak Up Research Project reports annually on nationally aggregated findings to inform federal and state education policies. Policymakers regularly use Speak Up research to develop new initiatives, funding, and programs that enhance K-12 education.
How are Speak Up surveys developed?
The Speak Up surveys are developed over the course of a year, focusing on topics of interest to school and district leadership. We collaborate with thought leaders, policy researchers, state education agency professionals, nonprofit and association leaders, practicing teachers, parents, and students. This comprehensive approach ensures the ongoing relevance of Speak Up data.
What are the origins of the Speak Up Research Project?
Speak Up was launched in 2003 as a result of a national AmeriCorps program managed by NetDay (now Project Tomorrow) in five highly challenged communities. The program addressed the “digital disconnect” between students’ desires to use technology for learning and how technology was being utilized in classrooms. The first Speak Up data collection was funded by a small grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the development of the 2004 National Education Technology Plan.
If you would like to learn more about participating in Speak Up, please contact Sam Schroeder, Speak Up Project Manager (sschroeder@tomorrow.org or 949-609-4660)
