Australia

Connect A publication that has appeared six times a year since late 1979 that documents and shares resources supporting student participation approaches in primary and secondary schools - in classroom practice, in student organisations (SRCs and JSCs) and between schools through networks and training.

r.u.MAD? This program engages students in creating student action projects and student-led foundations to create change in schools. The program emphasizes student engagement and participation, with teachers participating as facilitators.

Canada

Centre on Excellence in Youth Engagement CEYE studies successful efforts to engage young people throughout Canada, including schools. Their website provides examples and resources from across the nation, and forums where students can discuss schools.

COLUMBIA

Escuelas Nuevas The "New Schools" were introduced in 1975 as a reform of rural schools in Colombia, based on a local initiative to allow students in rural areas access to a full primary education. They stress collaborative learning, peer teaching, the use of self-instructional guides, participation in student government, close relationships with their families and communities, a strong connection of the curriculum with the community, and the role of teachers as facilitators. Overall, the 'Escuelas Nuevas' are regarded as an extremely successful school reform. They have been emulated in a number of less economically developed countries such as Dominican Republic, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panamá, Nicaragua, Argentina, and Chile. Research has clearly established that children in 'Escuelas Nuevas' have higher academic achievement and higher levels of self-esteem than children from traditional schools. These results represent an extremely important accomplishment given the fact that rural schools provide education to the poorest section of students in Colombia. The Colombian government is now beginning to implement

this school reform in a small numbers of urban schools.

INDONESIA

Madrasah Tsanawiyah Bingkat Students at an unusual junior and senior high school in Indonesia are learning to debate and think critically, taking the knowledge they gain back home to poor rural villages where they participate in awareness-building and community development activities. These two schools have abolished the conventional educational system's rote learning, endless theory, and blind obedience to teachers, replacing it with "community-based civic education" that explores social, cultural and political issues relevant to students' everyday lives.

IRELAND

Union of Secondary Students The umbrella body of all second level students in Ireland.

United Kingdom

English Secondary Students Association ESSA is working to become the representative body for secondary students in England. It aims to support students in expressing their views about education by providing workshops and a network of support with other secondary school students.

Consulting Pupils on Teaching and Learning

Bedfordshire Schools Improvement Partnership

Pupil Voice

The Research Informed Practice Site (TRIPS) Special Issues on Pupil Voice

UNITED STATES

SoundOut Links

PUBLICATIONS

We Want Our Say: Children as Active Participants in Their Education Interview with author Reva Klein

EVENTS

International Democratic Education Conference IDEC is an annual event held which attracts participants from all around the world. This year’s theme: Democracy – What’s Next? Poses a challenging question about the shape of democratic education in the future. The key-uniting theme is a passion for putting the learner at the centre of the learning process. The experience of IDEC goes beyond the student-centered learning philosophies and has broad applicability to all manner of progressive, alternative and mainstream schools.