This press launch initially appeared on-line.
Key factors:
Whereas there’s huge settlement that scholar engagement performs a significant position in studying, educators proceed to face uncertainty about what engagement appears to be like like, how greatest to measure it, and how one can maintain it, based on a brand new examine from Discovery Training.
Training Insights 2025–2026: Fueling Studying Via Engagement captures prevailing attitudes and beliefs on the subject of engagement from 1,398 superintendents, lecturers, dad and mom, and college students from throughout the US. Survey knowledge was collected in Might 2025 by Hanover Analysis on behalf of Discovery Training.
“Discovery Training performed the Training Insights report to realize a deeper understanding of how engagement is outlined, noticed, and nurtured in Ok-12 lecture rooms nationwide, and we’re grateful to the members who shared their views and insights with us,” stated Brian Shaw, Discovery Training’s Chief Government Officer. “One of the crucial vital findings of this report is that engagement is seen as important to studying, however is inconsistently outlined, noticed, and supported in Ok-12 lecture rooms. I imagine this highlights the necessity for a extra standardized strategy to measuring scholar engagement and connecting it to educational achievement. Discovery Training has launched into an effort to handle these challenges, and we stay up for sharing extra as our work progresses.”
Key findings of the Training Insights 2025–2026: Fueling Studying Via Engagement report embrace:
Engagement is broadly acknowledged as a key driver of studying and success. Ninety-three % of educators surveyed agreed that scholar engagement is a essential metric for understanding total achievement, and 99 % of superintendents polled imagine scholar engagement is without doubt one of the prime predictors of success in school. Lastly, 92 % of scholars stated that partaking classes make faculty extra satisfying.
However educators disagree on the highest indicators of engagement. Seventy-two % of lecturers rated asking considerate questions because the strongest indicator of scholar engagement. Nonetheless, 54 % of superintendents recognized performing nicely on assessments as a prime engagement indicator. That is almost twice as excessive as lecturers, who rank assessments among the many lowest indicators of engagement.
College leaders and lecturers disagree on if their faculties have programs for measuring engagement. Whereas 99 % of superintendents and 88 % of principals stated their district has an intentional strategy for measuring engagement, solely 60 % of lecturers agreed. Additional, almost one-third of lecturers stated {that a} lack of clear, shared definitions of scholar engagement is a prime problem to measuring engagement successfully.
Educators and college students differ on their perceptions of engagement ranges. Whereas 63 % of scholars agreed with the assertion “College students are extremely engaged in class,” solely 45 % of lecturers and 51 % of principals surveyed agreed with the identical assertion.
College students price their very own engagement a lot increased than their friends. Seventy % of elementary college students perceived themselves as engaged, however solely 42 % perceived their friends as engaged. Fifty-nine % of center faculty college students perceived themselves engaged in studying, however solely 36 % perceived their friends as engaged. Lastly, 61 % of highschool college students perceived themselves as engaged, however solely 39 % described their friends as engaged.
Proximity to studying adjustments impressions of AI. Two-thirds of scholars imagine AI might assist them be taught sooner, but fewer than half of lecturers report utilizing AI themselves to finish duties. Solely 57 % of lecturers agreed with the assertion “I often study optimistic methods college students are utilizing AI,” whereas 87 % of principals and 98 % of superintendents agree. Likewise, solely 53 % of lecturers agreed with the assertion “I’m excited concerning the potential for AI to help instructing and studying,” whereas 83 % of principals and 94 % of superintendents agreed.
