If school renewal is to ultimately impact student outcomes, then understanding and responding to the factors students describe as influencing their constructive and unconstructive effort is vital. Results from focus groups with 4th, 7th, 9th, and 11th graders indicated that when students set and work toward goals, they expend more effort in school. Families are most helpful when they set high expectations, check in on homework and grades, and are willing to talk through school-related issues with their children. Students described teachers who genuinely care about students and who demonstrate a deep commitment to their content area as most helpful. (Contains 1 table. Appended is a list of the Student Effort Research Project Focus Group Questions.)