The Whole Child Initiative: Challenged

These indicators may serve as a needs assessment, a set of strategic goals and outcomes, a framework for decision making, or the definition of what a whole child approach to education truly requires. In fact, these indicators are among those we consider in the selection process for Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award. However you choose to use them, please share them widely among your stakeholders and involve many voices in soliciting evidence related to their implementation. Although these are largely school-based, a whole child approach to education requires the engagement of the entire community to ensure that each child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

Each graduate is challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and participation in a global environment.

1. Each student in our school has access to challenging, comprehensive curriculum in all content areas.

2. Our curriculum and instruction provide opportunities for students to develop critical-thinking and reasoning skills, problem solving competencies, and technology proficiency.

3. Our school collects and uses qualitative and quantitative data to support student academic and personal growth.

4. Our curriculum, instruction, and assessment demonstrate high expectations for each student.

5. Our school works with families to help all students understand the connection between education and lifelong success.

6. Our curriculum and instruction include evidence-based strategies to prepare students for further education, career, and citizenship.

7. Our extracurricular, cocurricular, and community-based programs provide students with experiences relevant to higher education, career, and citizenship.

8. Our curriculum and instruction develop students' global awareness and competencies, including understanding of language and culture.

9. Our school monitors and assesses extracurricular, cocurricular and community-based experiences to ensure students’ academic and personal growth.

10. Our school provides cross-curricular opportunities for learning with and through technology.

Change the conversation about education in your school and community. Download the set of challenged indicators (PDF). Explore free, in-depth resources to help you move from a vision for educating the whole child to action that results in successful, well-rounded young people.