Student Leadership Research Collaborative

The Ohio State University Student Research Leadership Collaborative is an opportunity to bring students together from multiple school districts, representing a diverse population of students working together in a structured format to produce real change.

The Ohio State Student Leadership Research Collaborative gives students a structured platform to research, discuss, and solve issues related to their school or community. Participants will learn leadership skills associated with qualitative and quantitative research connected through advocacy. Students have the opportunity to form relationships that assist them in becoming change leaders within their schools and community.

Student participants will:

• Attend eight sessions beginning the fall of each year and conclude with the development of a policy brief, oral and capstone presentation in the spring

• Engage in a mix of hands-on activities, simulations, and work groups.

• Share ideas with peers from other districts.

• Learn from dynamic speakers including youth advocates, community experts, and school administrators.

• Work closely with Ohio State University Department of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University Department of Arts and Sciences and Cleveland State University Department of Urban Education to develop through Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) a skill set that will allow them to become educated informed advocates for their school and community.

Why a Collaborative?

Introduction The Ohio State University Student Leadership Research Collaborative (OSU SLRC)

2025-26

I have always believed student voice is imperative to both hope and real change. This belief drove my work as coach, principal, and superintendent in six Ohio school districts. Often, we discovered students wanted a platform to discuss change, but didn't know how to go about making these changes into reality.

The current climate of social justice, advocacy, and energy has been evident in each school, especially during the past few years, that was exacerbated by the global pandemic. Students have wanted to talk about things and act, and if not given some type of structure, they create their own potentially dividing communities and schools. We believe it is important to be proactive not reactive to this change. Collaborative is an opportunity for school districts to bring students together in an interactive way to positively support these ideas.

The Ohio State University Student Research Leadership Collaborative has been designed to bring students together from multiple school districts, representing a diverse population of learners working together in a structured format to produce real change. Student teams of five each representing multiple Central Ohio & Southeast Ohio school districts, begin working together in the fall, to explore leadership qualities, quantitative/qualitative measurement, and advocacy strategies consistent with change. Through support from our collaborative partners, students will become voices of changes for their respective schools and communities.

What makes this project unique is the research component attached to advocacy. Student participants are not only supported in their individual school districts teacher/leader, but also by graduate students from Cleveland State University and Ohio State University. Through their hypotheses students will learn leadership skills that are consistent with that of a truly educated young advocate. After collecting and interpreting data, students present their findings through a policy brief, poster, and oral presentation to district administrators in the spring. In summary the anticipated outcomes for student participants: Leadership * Advocacy * Research.

We are excited to bring this opportunity to the students of Central & Southeast Ohio made possible by the support of our collaborative partners. Additionally, we are excited about the work of our year II/III students as they teamed with students in Northeast Ohio in developing statewide research and presenting nationally.

Dr. Keith M. Bell, Sr.
College of Education and Human Ecology

Registration

The Process

Identify five 10th grade students to participate in the collaborative (see student profile).

• Identify second-year participants and enter information on registration form.
• Complete the registration form, including name and personal email information.
• Identify a staff mentor/teacher leader to participate with each team for each session (see staff mentor profile).
• Submit the registration form by October 23, 2025.
• Participation/registration confirmation will be sent to teacher leader, students, and building principal via email. Students will receive a Zoom link for virtual sessions.

• Get ready to IMAGINE * CREATE * IMPLEMENT * CHANGE

Why Students Should Participate?

Exposure to college-level instruction in quantitative and qualitative research.
•   Exposure to college-level delivery of advocacy to action skills.
•   Leadership workbook and personal leadership journals provided.
•   Student leadership skills and actions.
•   Certificate of completion from The Ohio State University.
•   Youth Participatory Action Research curriculum delivery.
•   Experience can be used for college resume.
•   Exposure to Ohio State education doctoral students as additional mentors.
•   Opportunity to create real change.
•   Learn how to become an empowered student advocate for change.
•   Connect with peers from other Central Ohio school districts.
•   Have fun and learning new knowledge.

Why Districts/Schools Should Participate?

Opportunity to address student social and emotional needs.
Innovative educational experience for students.
Opportunity for students to work with peers in Central Ohio schools.
College-level research, leadership, and advocacy instruction.
Youth Participatory Action Research Curriculum.
Potentially connect disconnected students.
Integrate current knowledge into action.
Exposure to Ohio State academic and admission resources.
College Credit Plus (CCP) opportunities through Cleveland State University for second-year students.
Graduate Credit opportunities for teacher leader/advisors through Cleveland State University (from 2-5 graduate credits).
NO COST for participants – all schools/districts need do is get them to the location. Meal and instruction included with thanks to our collaborative sponsors.

Student Profile

Any student that is passionate about creating positive change in your school or community.
•   Any student that would benefit from working collaboratively as a team to create real change for their school or community.
•   Any student that may be an informal leader in the school without an outlet to channel ideas and energy.
•   Any student that thinks outside of the traditional methodology of education and would benefit from something different.
•   Any student that may be currently disengaged in school and has leadership qualities, but no outlet to explore possibilities.
•   Any student that would be an asset to the learning of other students.
•   Any student looking for answers.
•   Student council members/various leaders from extra- and co-curricular clubs and organizations that have not had student professional development in leadership.

Teacher/Leader/Advisor Profile

Staff members that work to offer student growth opportunities such as guidance counselors, building administrators, teacher leaders, teachers on special assignment, interested staff members, safety and security personnel, and any staff member that would positively support student growth.

Attend each session
Work with students to help them think through potential boundaries and direct them to resources to support the problem or issue they want to address.
Guide on the side with student breakout groups

Collaborative Partners

Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
Educational Service Center of Central Ohio
Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio
Educational Service Center of Southeast Ohio
The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Cleveland State University Center for Urban Education
Columbus State Community College
The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences
Phil Mallott Family Foundation
Jostens
McGraw Hill
Veregy LLC
NYNE Global
Moody Nolan Architecture
State Farm Insurance
P Randolf Financial
Ohio High School Athletic Association
First Ring Student Leadership Institute
Participating Central and Southeast Ohio School Districts
Columbus City Schools
Ohio National Guard
Ohio School Boards Association
U.S. Department of Education
Vision Realty
Reese Realty Group
State Farm Insurance
KMB Academic Alliance LLC.
The Ohio State University Department of Community Engagement
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Diversified Systems Inc
Universal Studios Orlando Florida
Right At School
T-Mobile

Schedule

See registration form here and submit by October.

Advisor/Teacher Orientation: Thursday, October 22nd 6:00 pm (virtual/zoom)

Tuesday, October 28 @ Columbus State Community College Mitchell Hall

Tuesday, November 18 @ Greater Columbus Convention Center with First Ring Student Leadership Team Cleveland (joint session)

Wednesday, December 17 @ Columbus State Community College Workforce Development Conference Center

Tuesday, January 27 @ Columbus State Community College Workforce Development Conference Center

Wednesday, February 25 @ The Ohio State University Student Union Performance Hall

Wednesday, March 11 @ Cleveland State University, Student Center with First Ring Student Institute (joint session)

Thursday, April 16, Virtual Session

Tuesday, May 15 @ Columbus State Community College, Final Session Capstone & Oral Presentations Workforce Development Conference Center

Contact Us

Year 1: Introduction to Advocacy, Leadership & Research

High school sophomores/juniors investigate an issue at their school using YPAR methods and other quantitative and qualitative research to deepen YPAR findings.

Teams of five students from each school or district research the nature, causes, and potential solutions to a community, school or district issue that’s important to them
In May, students present their solutions through a capstone and oral presentation to district administrators.

Year 2 & 3: Authentic Research and Action

Year one students move on to year two/three to put their ideas into authentic action and research while supporting the growth of first-year student researchers in a mentorship role

Year Two/Three students in 2025-26 will work together in one group to carve out an individual research/advocacy pathway. Working with the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State University, Cleveland State University Department of Urban Education, and the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University students will have the opportunity to:

Conduct statewide research on a topic area of interest based on advocacy and impact designed to improve the current condition of school and/or community

Examination of a current topic or issue in education designed to improve the current condition of school and/or community

Examination through research and advocacy of a personal area of interest designed to improve the current condition of school and/or community

Students will present their research findings and recommendations in the spring and have an opportunity to become a part of the Ohio State Student Leadership Research Collaborative Presentation Team.

Youth Participatory Action Metrics & Learning Outcomes

School Based Youth Participatory Action Research (SchYPAR)

There is a distinction between the Ohio State Student Leadership Research Collaborative (OSU SLRC) and School Based Youth Participatory Action Research Project (SchYPAR). The foundational work and anticipated outcomes are similar, the strategies to achieve student growth are different for each. These are two DIFFERENT initiatives with similar goals and the clarification is below:

SchYPAR

SchYPAR is an initiative funded by a grant from the US Department of Education based largely on the success of the OSU SLRC and partner program in Cleveland the First Ring Student Leadership Institute (FRSLI). The idea

is to take the strategies that have been successful in engaging and growing students in both extracurricular programs and applying those same strategies to academic content in the classroom. This is supported by Cleveland State University, Department of Urban Education The Ohio State University, colleges of Education and Human Ecology, and Arts and Sciences along with the Educational Service Centers of Central, Southeast and Northeast Ohio.

Goal of SchYPAR is to explore creative ways to use and integrate YPAR strategies in a traditional classroom supporting student growth and achievement. Strategies introduced through YPAR are consistent with Ohio academic standards for each content area.

SchYPAR takes what we know that works in the OSU SLRC and applies it to the classroom

Teachers that participate receive a stipend of $1000.00 and meet once per month throughout the year (Saturday mornings) for teacher professional development & support. Teacher leaders from both the OSU SLRC & FRSLI are afforded the opportunity to participate, but teachers outside of these initiatives can participate as long as space allows.

OSU SLRC

Students meet monthly beginning October of each year (8 sessions)
Teams of five from each school form a research team that explores advocacy, leadership and research throughout each session by identifying a problem or concern in their school
Upon identification on an issue in their school or community student research teams conduct research on the problem identified and present findings their findings and recommendations by way of a policy brief, capstone and oral presentation.
Second-year OSU SLRC students will explore a statewide issue and conduct statewide research on that issue
Third-year students will work with the college of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State University to work as community support advocates on a project that will be determined during the first session by the student participants.

Resources for Action Civics & Youth Activism

Amplifying Student Voice

This website is intended to be used by school teachers and community-based educators – in short, anyone who works with young people to become agents of change in their schools or communities. The website includes curriculum linked to each step of the action civics pathway. It also includes an assessment rubric and video examples that can be used to support students’ development of high-quality policy arguments.

Learning Outcomes

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