Program

Empowering Students, Improving Schools

You+Lead Cadre

The You+Lead Cadre supports students and education leaders to build student-led, evidence-based improvement structures that strengthen engagement, deepen belonging, and generate meaningful change.

About the You+Lead Cadre

You+Lead is a school-based improvement program that trains students to collect and analyze experience data, identify barriers to learning, and work side-by-side with adults to design solutions. Built on the Youth Participatory Evaluation (YPE) model, You+Lead helps districts create formal systems for student voice that lead to stronger relationships and more responsive school environments.

Youth participatory evaluation (YPE) is an engagement strategy that elevates student voice within the school community by training students in evaluation methods to collect the voices of individuals at their school with the goal of positively impacting the systems designed to serve them.

Why it Matters

Studies show that student voice practices strengthen leadership skills, deepen critical thinking, improve communication, and boost engagement and learning outcomes. One recent study finds that having even one teacher who uses student voice practices is associated with greater agency, higher math grades, stronger GPAs, and lower absenteeism compared to having none. Adult receptivity to student ideas was strongly associated with these positive outcomes.

“The students figured out that they have a voice. They realized that if they understand the process, they can truly get things done. The students at [our school] are excited about next year. They're excited about the fact that somebody just wants to listen.”
Youth Participatory Advisor

Program Design

The You+Lead Cadre uses a three-phase improvement cycle that guides schools from launch to action. Each phase includes structured activities for student teams and adult advisors, supported by resources, training, and coaching.

Phase 1

Launch

Build student leadership team, identify key research questions, and create a plan for data collection and inquiry.

Phase 2

Learn

Students collect and analyze data from their peers through empathy interviews, surveys, storytelling, and classroom observations. They synthesize findings and prepare to share insights with educators and leaders.

Phase 3

Lead

Students present recommendations, collaborate with adults to refine solutions, and begin implementing and iterating improvements with ongoing support.

Across all phases, You+Lead prioritizes:

Student-led, adult-advised improvement
Authentic sharing and testing of student experiences
Root-cause analysis based on student-generated data
Structured opportunities for students to influence decisions
Actions and changes that support continuous improvement

“Because [of YOU+LEAD] I believe that I can finally contribute to the decisions that run my school.”
Youth Participant

Impact

Schools in the You+Lead Cadre are working toward stronger, more responsive learning environments by integrating student perspectives into everyday decision-making.

Students thrived on being heard and grew in leadership skills, resilience, sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and elevating of unheard voices.
School Leaders and Youth Advisors reported seeing student sense of belonging and student perceptions of school climate improving.
Adults reported an increased respect for student insights, greater recognition of student potential, and positive shifts in their perceptions of student self-efficacy.
Students reported greater confidence that they had the skills needed to make positive changes at their schools and developed deeper relationships with adults and their peers.
Administrators reported that the students' presentations and findings were well-received by the faculty, even when the recommendations included potentially sensitive issues like the lack of consistency in policy implementation.

Read the report

Get Involved

Are you interested in learning about student experience and helping them start a You+Lead club in your school? Jump into our free, online course or explore YPE at the district level.

Contact

Alan Coverstone
You+Lead Cadre Consultant
alan@impactfl.org

Related Resources, Tools, and Stories

August 1, 2025