WHOLE CHILD

The ASCD Whole Child Approach

The demands of the 21st century require a new approach to education, one that fully prepares students for college, career, and citizenship. Research, practice, and common sense confirm that a whole child approach to education will develop and prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow by addressing students' comprehensive needs through the shared responsibility of students, families, schools, and communities.

All educators want to improve the work they do for students, their families, and the community. Whether it's instruction, school climate, leadership, family engagement, or any of the other issues schools face on a daily basis, all educators need tools to help them improve their actions and methods. A whole child approach, which ensures that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged, sets the standard for comprehensive, sustainable school improvement and provides for long-term student success.

ASCD's Whole Child approach is an effort to transition from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of all children. Through this approach, ASCD supports educators, families, community members, and policymakers as they move from a vision about educating the whole child to sustainable, collaborative actions.

ASCD Whole Child Network Learning Compact Renewed

With The Learning Compact Renewed, we have an opportunity to harness our collective effort; galvanize a strong commitment to doing what's right for kids; and, ultimately, set our country and the world on a path to a bright and prosperous future.

Download the Learning Compact Renewed (PDF)

Register today for the new ASCD Whole Child Network!

Be part of ASCD's mission of educating the whole child by joining the ASCD Whole Child Network, a global network of schools focused on the same goals; engaged in the same processes; and with whose educators you can discuss issues, share insights, and exchange support.

Schools and districts that join the network receive access to the following:

• ASCD Whole Child School Improvement Tool™: ASCD's online needs assessment tool based on the ASCD Whole Child approach to education.
• ASCD Whole Child School Improvement Tool Report: A report specifically designed for whole child schools that details results down to the indicator level, highlighting key areas where the school is doing well and other areas that need additional supports.
• ASCD Whole Child Network Guide: A dedicated guide that walks ASCD Whole Child Network schools through the report's results and helps with planning the school's professional development activities.
• ASCD Action Planner: Designed for use in conjunction with the ASCD Whole Child Network Guide, the Action Planner allows schools to outline their yearly professional development and activities focused on a problem of practice.
• ASCD Whole Child Network Continuum™: This continuum of 150 benchmarks is aligned to each Whole Child Tenet and Indicator and is spread across three levels from beginning through mastery.

Whole Child Tenets

• Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle.
• Each student learns in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.
• Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and broader community.
• Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults.
• Each student is challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and participation in a global environment.

Additional Resources

Learn more about the whole child through these programs and products.

• ASCD Whole Child Network (global network)
• The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model (WSCC) (learning and health model)
• ASCD Whole Child School Improvement Tool (needs assessment survey)
• An Introduction to the Whole Child (online course)