Aspire Belonging Survey
Fall Edition
Why focus on student belonging?
Focusing on the well-being and sense of belonging of students within a school environment has several important benefits, including academic success, emotional well-being, positive school climate, inclusivity, and students’ long-term success in high school and beyond. The Aspire Network focuses on the belonging of students within a school for the purpose of building a strong and inclusive school community that benefits everyone involved.
How we gather perceptions of belonging?
The Aspire Network developed the belonging survey to assess students’ feelings, attitudes and experiences of belonging. The survey includes 22 items that students rate using an agreement scale. The survey covers aspects of belonging such as relationships, teacher-student interactions, extra curricular activities, and school environment. The Network administers the survey twice a year to students in grades 6-8 in the fall and spring of the academic year.
What are we learning?
During the fall of 2023, the Network administered the survey to 8,109 students representing approximately 90% of the student population. Below, the results of the survey are divided into 3 sections, each corresponding to a driver of school belonging: Student voice, relationships, and agency.
Student Voice
Student voice refers to the perspectives, opinions, and input of students in matters related to their education and school experiences. It emphasizes the idea that students should have an active and meaningful role in shaping their own learning environments. This concept recognizes that students are not just passive recipients of education but are also valuable contributors to the educational process.
About 60.37% students agree that student voice matters at their school.
Relationships
Relationship refers to the interpersonal connections and social bonds that students form within the school environment. It encompasses the quality of interactions and connections between students, as well as between students and teachers, staff, and the school community as a whole. Positive relationships contribute significantly to a student’s sense of belonging in school.
Approximately 68.99% of students agree that relationships matter at their school.
Student Agency
Student agency refers to the capacity of students to take an active role in their own learning and to have a sense of control and ownership over their educational experiences. In the context of school belongingness, student agency plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of belonging.
About 70.76% of students agree that student agency is important at their school.
What are the next steps?
The Aspire Network focuses on school belongingness because it is a fundamental aspect of creating a positive and effective learning environment. The benefits of a strong sense of belonging extend beyond academic achievement to encompass students’ overall well-being and their ability to thrive in school and beyond.
The evidence from the Aspire Belonging survey will:
- Support inclusive practices that promote diversity and inclusion
- Build positive teacher-student relationships
- Increase active student engagement
- Develop a positive school climate