A growing number of districts are tapping into a powerful resource to strengthen engagement and trust: their students.

A new national report from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and SchoolStatus, Elevating Student Voice in School Communications: A Data-Informed Look at Emerging Practices in School PR, reveals that incorporating student voice through videos, messaging and peer-created content can lead to stronger family engagement, improved academic outcomes and greater student confidence.

Key takeaways include:

• Video storytelling leads the way: 81% of districts using student voice strategies rely on video as their primary format.
• Direct communication with students is growing: 65% of districts report at least some direct communication with students about matters that are also shared with families, such as academic updates, behavioral expectations or attendance.
• Internships are on the rise: 30% of districts now involve students as interns or communication ambassadors, helping create content and amplify student perspectives.
• Equity efforts around student storytelling vary significantly. While some districts say they intentionally recruit students with diverse perspectives, fewer encourage multilingual storytelling or provide structured support to help students share their stories.

Early results are promising. Districts report that student voice is making a real impact—leading to more engaging, authentic and effective communication.

• 61% of districts that track comparisons report student-led content generates higher engagement than staff-created communications.
• 80% of respondents observe that student voice positively impacts family engagement.
• A majority (55%) said direct communication with students improves academic outcomes.

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