How Federal Policy Can Empower States and Communities to Provide Whole Child Education For All Students

Decades of research show that whole child approaches to learning, which emphasize a positive school climate, an integrated approach to social, emotional, and academic learning, and wraparound services are essential to students' academic and life success and can reduce the negative effects of poverty on achievement. Federal funds (which make up approximately 9% of states’ education spending) along with state and local efforts to support the whole child, can play an important role in supporting the implementation of research-based whole child approaches that foster 21st century skills. 

Speakers at this briefing examined federal policy levers—such as funding through the Higher Education Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act, and other programs—that state and local policymakers can use to invest in research-based whole child approaches to learning, including integrated student supports, community schools, and other approaches that foster academic enrichment.

Panelists discussed the research, key lessons, and recommendations for developing whole child environments, including:  

• How schools need to be structured to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of the whole child.
• How states, districts, and schools can provide a multi-tiered system of student support through community schools.  
• How states and districts can provide high-quality teacher and leader preparation and professional development for creating child-centered environments that foster students’ well-being and encourage creativity, including through opportunities in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
• How communities can develop and implement metrics, indicators, and evidence of equity and quality.

Speakers

• Jessica Cardichon, Director of Federal Policy, Director, DC Office, Learning Policy Institute
• Deborah Delisle, President and CEO, Alliance for Excellent Education
• Abbe Futterman, Principal, The Earth School
• Charles Kamasaki, Senior Cabinet Advisor, UnidosUS
• Monika Kincheloe, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, America’s Promise Alliance
• Philip Tizzani, Professional Staff Member for the House Appropriations Committee

Remarks by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Related Resources

• American Institutes for Research
  • Advancing School Safety, Climate, and Culture in Cleveland
  • Creating Healthy Schools: Ten Key Ideas for the SEL and School Climate Community
  • ESSA Action Guide │ Selecting Evidence-Based Practices for Low-Performing Schools
  • ESSA Action Guide | Using ESSA to Improve the Fairness of School Funding
• America’s Promise Alliance: Defining Webs of Support
• Aspen Institute National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development: A Policy Agenda in Support of How Learning Happens
• Bank Street College: The Bank Street Approach
• Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
  • Collaborating States Initiative (CSI) Landing Page and CSI Resource Pages
  • State Scan Brief (September 2018) and Interactive Map for SEL Standards and Guidance
  • CSI Emerging Insights Report
  • State Frameworks Brief (February 2019)
  • Equity and SEL Brief (November 2018)  
  • How States and School Districts are Collaborating to Promote Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (September 2018)
  • How Six States are Collaborating with Local and Regional Educators to Implement Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (September 2018)
  • Key Features of High Quality Policies and Guidance Tool (January 2017)
  • A Process for Developing and Articulating Learning Goals or Competencies for Social and Emotional Learning (January 2017)
  • The Collaborating States Initiative (CSI) Recommended Process for Developing State Policies and Guidelines to Support Social and Emotional Learning (January 2017)
• The Earth School: Learning Domains
• EducationCounsel
  • Social and Emotional Learning and Development, Conditions for Learning, and Whole Child Supports in ESSA State Plans
  • Measuring School Climate and Social and Emotional Learning and Development: A Navigation Guide for States and Districts
• Opportunity Institute: Why Whole Child Equity Matters
• Partnership for the Future of Learning: Community Schools Playbook
• Turnaround for Children
  • Building Blocks for Learning
  • School Year 2018-19
  • Key Findings and Implications of the Science of Learning and Development
  • Science Syllabus