WHAT WORKS
It is time to put students first, align resources to students' multiple needs, and advocate for a more balanced approach.
Each child, in each school, in each of our communities deserves to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. We live in a time that requires our students to be prepared to think both critically and creatively, to evaluate massive amounts of information, solve complex problems, and communicate well, yet our education systems remain committed to time structures, coursework, instructional methods, and assessments designed more than a century ago. What if decisions about education policy were made by first asking, "What works best for children?" What if the education, health, housing, public safety, recreation, and business systems within our communities aligned human and capital resources to provide coordinated service to kids and families? What if policymakers at all levels worked with educators, families and community members to ensure that we as a society meet our social compact to prepare children for their future rather than our past?
That's what a whole child approach to learning, teaching, and community engagement really is. Our children deserve it. Our future demands it.