Why We Lose Students in Middle School And How to Change It

By middle school, many students have already started to disengage from their education—not because they can’t learn, but because they don’t understand themselves as learners.

In this episode of Conversations by IEP Assure, Allie Wilson is joined by Marjorie Archer to unpack what’s really happening during those critical middle school years. From students hiding their struggles to avoiding accommodations, they explore how a lack of self-advocacy leads to disengagement, behavior challenges, and missed opportunities.

You’ll walk away with practical strategies you can implement immediately, including how to:

• Teach students to understand and name their disability
• Normalize accommodations in the classroom
• Build self-advocacy skills early
• Use data to motivate and empower students
• Shift from compliance to connection

If you’re a teacher, parent, or leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about support—and show you how to help students reconnect with their learning before it’s too late.