STOP Sign System

A Learner-Centered Tool for Student Wellness and Engagement

The Stop Sign System is a trauma-informed, learner-centered classroom strategy designed to support student mental health, personal agency, and psychological safety. Recognizing that students frequently navigate unseen personal challenges, personal limitations, or mental health days, this tool offers a structured way for learners to set healthy participation boundaries without compromising classroom accountability or revealing private circumstances.

How the System Works:

At the beginning of the semester or course, each student is provided with four physical stop signs.   

• Exemption & Privacy: When a student faces a day where active engagement or speaking in class feels unmanageable due to private or personal reasons, they can turn in a stop sign. During that class session, the student is exempt from active participation and will not be called on by the instructor.   

• No Explanation Required: Students do not need to explain, justify, or disclose the personal reasons behind using their stop sign, preserving their privacy and dignity.   

• Accountability: Once a stop sign is submitted, the instructor collects it. Because each student has a fixed allowance of four signs per term, the system encourages thoughtful self-regulation and maintains long-term engagement. 

Why Educators Use It:

• Supports Student Well-Being: Reduces classroom anxiety and gives students a low-friction tool to manage mental health and personal well-being.   

• Fosters Psychological Safety: Creates an empathetic, trust-filled learning environment where student boundaries are respected.   

• Promotes Self-Advocacy: Encourages students to assess their own capacity and make intentional decisions about their engagement.  

The Stop Sign System concept was created by Dr. Bryan Hains (University of Kentucky) and designed by Kaley Mumma (Purdue University). This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Capacity Building Grants Program. For inquiries, contact Dr. Hains at bryan.hains@uky.edu.