"Something that we can all take away is: what do students need? What do young people need? What do they think is working in their school? What's not working? And hear from them and actually, and don't just give it lip service and say, 'student voice, student voice.' Like, what are the students saying? What are they voicing?" — Elizabeth Miller In this episode of The Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto speaks with Rob Manning and Elizabeth Miller from Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) about their groundbreaking long-term reporting project, the "Class of 2025." Started in 2013, the project follows a group of students from first grade through their anticipated high school graduation in 2025. Rob and Elizabeth share the origins of the project, sparked by then-Governor John Kitzhaber's ambitious goal of a 100% high school graduation rate by 2025. They discuss the challenges and rewards of following the same cohort of students over more than a decade, including building deep relationships with families and adapting to significant events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation highlights compelling individual stories that shed light on broader issues within the education system, such as student engagement, resource allocation, and the critical importance of relationships between students and educators. They also reflect on shifting educational policies and goals, and what these mean for the students they've been following. As they approach the culmination of the project, Rob and Elizabeth consider its impact on their understanding of education in Oregon and the potential lessons for policymakers, educators, and the community at large.