human restoration project

we listen to young people, educators, and communities, then reimagine what's possible.

bring us to your school start here

what we're changing about school.

young people are checking out.

32 %

of students are engaged in school, 5th grade to 11th.

Gallup Student Poll Finds Engagement in School Dropping by Grade Level Ross Brenneman (2016) Education Week View source →

and many of them are unwell.

40 %

of high schoolers feel persistently sad or hopeless, 2011 to 2023.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data Summary & Trends Report 2013-2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) The YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report provides a detailed look at trends in health-related behaviors among high school students. In 2023, 40 percent of students experienced persistent feelings of... View source →

educators are heading for the door.

55 %

of educators plan to leave education sooner than they intended.

NEA Survey: Massive Staff Shortages in Schools Leading to Educator Burnout National Education Association (2022) View source →

what people want from school isn't what it measures.

# 49 of 57

Americans ranked 57 goals for school. Ranking students by standardized test scores came 49th; practical life skills came first.

Populace Insights: Purpose of Education Index Populace (2022) Private opinion survey conducted with YouGov, 12-30 September 2022 (1,010 U.S. adults, 1,087 parents). Of 57 possible K-12 priorities, Americans ranked students developing practical skills #1 and... View source →

families want schools to build real skills.

85 %

of parents say it is very or extremely important that school builds skills like critical thinking and communication.

Fall Polling Finds Parents Value Durable Skills Development in Schools Colyn Ritter (2025) EdChoice and Morning Consult Public Opinion Tracker, fielded August to November 2025 with roughly 1,300 school parents a month: 85% of school parents said it is extremely or very important that their... View source →

so we listen to all of them.

Young people, educators, and community voices tell us what school is really like, in their own words.

then we learn from it.

We take what everyone says and pair it with the latest research.

and rebuild school together.

restoring humanity to education.

Our empathy interview platform for hearing from entire communities about what matters most to them. We offer insights to transform schools and organizations.

visit polaris

Third Coast Learning Collaborative

A multiyear U.S. Department of Education grant bringing interdisciplinary PBL and portfolios to public middle schools around Muskegon, Michigan, independently evaluated by RAND.

visit tclc

/floÍžop/ feedback platform, short for feedback loop

Our free feedback platform, focused on iteration, improvement, and mastery over point accumulation.

try floop

where do you fit?

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sustain our work

Human Restoration Project is a small nonprofit. Gifts from people like you keep the podcast, the writing, and the resources free for every teacher, and keep what schools pay for our tools and PD well below what for-profit companies charge.

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Want empathy interviews or PD for your school, or just want to talk shop? get in touch