WHOLE CHILD

The Whole Child Approach

The demands of the 21st century require a new approach to education to fully prepare 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 is joined in this effort by Whole Child Partner organizations representing the education, arts, health, policy, and community sectors.

Explore resources and opportunities for action in the links below. Download indicators (PDF) of a whole child approach to education and community engagement and use the ASCD School Improvement Tool to assess your performance on those indicators. Join ASCD and our partners, and together we'll change the face of education policy and practice.

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.

What You Can Do

• Check out the whole child snapshots. Find out how well the nation as a whole—and your state in particular—is supporting the whole child.
• Use the ASCD School Improvement Tool. Get a free, comprehensive, and completely online needs assessment for your school and district.
• Read about tools to support the whole child. Tools to support the whole child are highlighted on ASCD's Inservice blog.
• Conduct a community conversation. Help your community explore how to work together to support the whole child.