Human Restoration Project's work spans free resources, professional development, technology platforms, and large-scale school transformation initiatives. Here's a summary of our reach and impact.
recent updates
DEV Launched redesigned website to improve public engagementJun 12, 2026
TCLC Shared educational tools update and access information with partner educatorsJun 8, 2026
HRP Developed resource guide for summer educator professional developmentJun 5, 2026
TCLC Educators gain new resource guide for responsible AI classroom integrationJun 5, 2026
Research consistently shows that the current education system is failing students, educators, and communities in fundamental ways.
student engagement
Student engagement is cut in half between elementary and high school Gallup, 2016
Only 41% of students say they love school, while 71% of parents believe they do Horn, 2025The Disengagement Gap Michael B. Horn (2025)
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1 in 4 students are chronically absent, nearly double pre-pandemic rates Horn, 2025The Disengagement Gap Michael B. Horn (2025)
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student mental health
Depression among teens has surged — 40% of high schoolers report persistent sadness or hopelessness, up from 29% in 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024Youth 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...
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Students say mental health is the biggest obstacle to learning — not grades, not difficulty YouthTruth, 2022
educator burnout
55% of educators plan to leave teaching sooner than planned National Education Association, 2022NEA Survey: Massive Staff Shortages in Schools Leading to Educator Burnout National Education Association (2022)
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— and they burn out at nearly 2x the rate of comparable workers Steiner et al., 2024Teacher Well-Being and Intentions to Leave: Results from the 2024 State of the American Teacher Survey Elizabeth D. Steiner, Sy Doan, Ashley Woo, Allyson D. Gittens (2024)
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grading & homework
+30%
more learning from comments only feedback
grades only → 0% gaingrades + comments → 0% gain
Students given comments instead of grades showed 30% more learning — adding grades to comments erased the benefit entirely Butler, 1987Task-Involving and Ego-Involving Properties of Evaluation: Effects of Different Feedback Conditions on Motivational Perceptions, Interest, and Performance Ruth Butler (1987)Journal of Educational PsychologyA total of 200 fifth- and sixth-grade students with high or low school achievement were given interesting divergent thinking tasks in each of three sessions. Individual comments, numerical grades,...
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Across 50 countries, homework frequency and achievement are negatively correlated — more homework, worse outcomes Kohn, 2012Homework: An unnecessary evil? Surprising findings from new research Alfie Kohn (2012)
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what we believe
project-based, deeper learning
The world needs creative, innovative people to solve the challenges ahead. Students learn best when they tackle real problems that matter to them and their communities — designing solutions, building prototypes, and presenting their work to authentic audiences. High-quality project-based learning develops the critical thinking, collaboration, and agency that prepare young people to build a brighter world.
systems thinking & public education
We are huge supporters of public education. Public schools are the backbone of democracy and the most powerful lever for equity in our society. But supporting public education means honestly reckoning with the systems that need to change — from funding structures to curricula to how we define student success. Real change requires understanding schools as interconnected systems, not isolated problems to fix with mandates.
rethinking grading, homework & testing
Traditional grading sorts and ranks students rather than supporting their growth. Homework often widens inequity rather than deepening learning. Standardized testing narrows what counts as knowledge. We believe in reinventing these practices for a modern era — moving toward feedback over scores, meaningful practice over busywork, and assessments that honor the full range of what students know and can do.
reinventing education, recognizing its power
Education has always been one of humanity's most powerful tools for liberation, connection, and growth. The goal is not to tear down schools but to transform them — to build systems that honor every student's humanity, amplify educator expertise, and prepare young people not just for jobs but for full, meaningful lives. The future of education is human-centered, and it starts with reimagining what's possible.
