Equitable & Empowering Learning for Each and Every Child

The significant decline in school attendance since the onset of the pandemic is concerning since chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind academically, disengage socially, and drop out of school. As state policymakers consider solutions, much can be learned from community schools and other whole child approaches, which have emerged as research-based strategies to address barriers to attendance and help schools reengage students.

This session introduces structures and practices that support positive relationships and create caring learning communities. Presenters highlight how redesigning high schools to be relationship-centered enables academic learning, social and emotional development, and adolescent well-being. Participants consider how these approaches might be enacted in their educational settings.

While every state has unique needs and different approaches to funding education, they all face similar challenges, including declining student enrollment, the needs of different student populations, instability in state budgets, and the reduction of federal funds. Each of these factors reshapes how resources are allocated to schools, with significant implications for students, educators, and communities.