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Looking Ahead to 2026-2027

Back to school is upon us, and we’re excited for the year ahead! Our team has welcomed five new Youth Program Specialists, including Olivia and Jillian, who joined us for our August retreat. Together, we refreshed our 2026–2029 Strategic Plan and renewed our commitment to the UP model and the power of youth-adult partnership to transform education.

Our WHY: working as full youth-adult partners to reimagine and transform education

Our HOW: Youth Participatory Action Research

Our WHO: YOU along with youth in your schools and in UP's Youth Internship Program

Our WHAT: shaped by our partners strengths, challenges and emerging needs

This email provides a succinct overview of UP’s offerings for 2026–2027. Please reach out with questions as you and your teams clarify what your classroom, school, or district needs to make this a successful year grounded in care and joy.

Restorative Practices

Introduction to Restorative Practices: One-Hour Free Webinar, September 15, 3:15 pm EST (details/register here)

Deeper Dive into Restorative Practices: 4-Part Professional Learning Series, begins September 29 (details/register here)

Year-long program: Transforming School Culture through Restorative Practices (details here)

Join the Vermont Restorative Approaches Collaborative for monthly Lunch and Learns (sign up here)

Sign-Up for the Restorative Practices Professional Learning Series

Action Based on Data Analysis

Getting to 'Y': Youth analyze their local 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data

(details on fall 2026 trainings here)

Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability: Youth create local sustainability action projects based on prioritizing the UN Sustainability Goals (details here)

Student Voice

Read about the successful district-wide Student Voice Advisories UP has helped create in Delaware and Vermont. These are examples of Customized Programs.

Join us for the youth-led Racial Justice Dialogues, virtual semi-monthly conversations researched and led by youth! (details here)

Improving School Culture and Climate

Personal Power and Community Connections (P2C2) - focus on elementary school (details here)

Moving UP - focus on school transitions (ie. transition to middle school) (details here)

Youth and Adults Transforming Schools Together - year-long program for high schools (details here)

Professional Development

Restorative Practices webinars (details here)

Graduate Course: Leading Change through Youth-Adult Partnership, register by August 31 (details here for credit and non-credit bearing options)

Learn at your own pace with our Self-Paced Webinars (details here)

Important Read for 2026-2027

UP for Learning is excited to share our report “Youth Engagement and Feedback on Vermont’s Proposed Statewide Graduation Requirements”. This report is the culmination of a partnership with the Vermont Agency of Education. Youth and adults from UP for Learning designed and led an effort to bring students from around Vermont into conversations about the Agency’s recommendations for new statewide graduation requirements to the Vermont State Board of Education.

Through surveys and focus groups, students from across Vermont were invited to share their experiences with graduation requirements, their perspectives on the proposed changes, and their vision for what they want their education to be. This work did not just reveal what students think about the proposed requirements: It also shed light on how students experience graduation requirements, what values shape their perspectives, and what they believe policymakers should consider as Vermont moves toward statewide requirements.

Through this project, the youth-adult team at UP for Learning engaged more than 1,500 Vermont high school and CTE students in sharing feedback on the proposed graduation requirements, as well as their experiences working toward current graduation requirements. The culminating report and accompanying presentation to the State Board of Education documents that effort, and shares the key findings and recommendations that emerged from the process.

Find the Report and more Analysis HERE

Read the Report Summary HERE

Learn more about all UP programs HERE and how we can customize our research-based strategies to help your school or district reimagine and transform education.

Opportunities from UP Partners

The National Conference on Citizenship's American Conversation Project (ACP) launched the Youth Track of the American Conversation Project!

The Vermont State Youth Council is currently accepting applications from youth from Essex, Grand Isle, Rutland, and Windham counties. The deadline to apply for these 3-year terms beginning in Fall 2026 is August 31, 2026. All applicants will be notified of the Council’s selection decision in September 2026. The Council considers applications from Vermont’s youth to fill the Council’s vacancies on an annual basis. If selected by the Council, youth will be appointed to 3-year terms.

92 S. Main Street, Suite 5

Waterbury, VT 05676

1 (802) 552-8140

info@upforlearning.org

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