Located within the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Department of Student Voice & Engagement (DSVE) leads the district's inclusive and responsive education strategy that aims to ensure all aspects of schooling in CPS are inclusive of and responsive to the lived experiences of students, and includes young people as key stakeholders in making decisions that impact them.

Our Mission

To advance student voice, engagement, inclusive & responsive practices that center students' lived experiences and strengthen youth-adult partnership among teachers, schools, networks, central office departments, and their communities.

Our Vision

To create and inspire transformational learning experiences that ignite curiosity, honor student identity and experience, promote agency, build inclusivity and partnerships that empower students to serve as critical actors in shaping the practices and policies that impact their daily school experience and future lives.

Latest News & Updates

1st Student Roundtable of SY25

Student Roundtable 1

On Thursday 11/14, The Department of Student Voice & Engagement (DSVE) coordinated the first of three Student Voice Roundtables of the year in a continued partnership with the Board of Education. The roundtable focused on the implementation plan and strategies for three priority areas of the district’s Strategic Plan - Students with Disabilities, Multilingual Pathways, and Postsecondary Success. 16 students (8 HS and 8 MS) representing each priority group engaged in intergenerational dialogue with CPS leadership including CEO Pedro Martinez and CEdO Bogdana Chkoumbova among others. Students built community with district leaders, learned more about each priority, and provided critical insight and feedback that will inform the refinement of district implementation. Students will synthesize their learning, feedback, and recommendations and present them to the Board of Education at the December meeting.

EOY Student Voice Celebration

On 4/19/24 the Department of Student Voice & Engagement had our End of the Year SVC Gathering at the Chicago Cultural Center hosted by the District Student Voice Committee (DSVC). The DSVC is a collective of high school SVC students who work to advance student voice and leadership in CPS. This was a youth led event with the purpose of building community, engaging in learning and leadership development, and celebrating student voice. We had close to 150 students with representation from 23 middle and high schools in attendance!

Partner Directory

Looking for an exciting partnership to enrich your classroom instruction or student-led inquiry project? Look no further! Visit the Partner Directory to connect with School Partners.

Dialogue & Deliberation in CPS Classrooms

Recent Blog Posts

Screenshot 2021-10-14 11.30.06 AM.png

Discover and Exercise the Power of Voting—for Those of Us Who Can’t

Oct. 30, 2020 | By: Crystal Campos

Crystal Campos is a 12th-grade student at John Hancock College Preparatory located in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood of Chicago.

Screenshot 2021-10-14 11.30.16 AM.png

Why Society Must Address Intersectional Discrimination

June 14, 2021 | By: Tabitha Walton & Alexis Saunders-Davis

Tabitha Walton and Alexis Saunders-Davis are 11th graders at Orr Academy High School located between the West Garfield and Humboldt Park neighborhoods.

Screen Shot 2022-01-31 at 9.57.15 AM

Multicultural Arts High School Cross Content Exploration of 1919-Red Summer

Feb. 1, 2022 | By: DSVE Staff

An interview with Anna Deem and Ryan Williams on their interdisciplinary unit of Red Summer.