National Whole Child Resolution
Breaking News
ASCD member Clare Struck, an elementary guidance counselor from the Malcolm Price Laboratory School (PLS) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, testified (PDF) at the April 22 Senate ESEA hearing on meeting the needs of the whole child. Senators learned about the challenges and benefits of providing students with a whole child education based on the firsthand experiences and successes of PLS educators.
PLS is the winner of ASCD's first Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award. The award recognizes schools that move beyond a narrow focus on academic achievement to take action for the whole child, creating learners who are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, civically active, artistically engaged, prepared for economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond formal schooling. Struck joined a distinguished panel, including Geoffrey Canada.
Take Action Now!
Congress has the chance to endorse a whole child approach to education by passing the first-ever federal Whole Child Resolution! H. Res. 1093 (PDF) and S. Res. 478 (PDF) designates March as "National Whole Child Month" and makes a whole child approach to education a national priority.
Urge your representative and senators to cosponsor this resolution now, and go on record as committed to ensuring each child, in each school, in each of our communities is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
H. Res. 1093 (PDF) and S. Res. 478 (PDF):
Expressing support for designation of March as "National Whole Child Month."
Whereas each student should be able to enter school healthy and to learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle;
Whereas, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, the percentage of overweight children ages 6 to 11 has doubled and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled over the last two decades;
Whereas each student should be able to learn in an intellectually challenging environment that is physically and emotionally safe;
Whereas, according to the Indicators of School Crime and Safety report of 2009, 32 percent of middle and high school students reported being bullied during the 2007 school year;
Whereas each student should be able to be actively engaged in learning and connected to the school and broader community;
Whereas a study on high school student engagement conducted by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at the Indiana University School of Education found that half of high school students feel they are an important part of their school community;
Whereas each student deserves access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults;
Whereas the same Indiana University study reported that more than 20 percent of students say there is no adult at their school who cares about them and knows them well;
Whereas each graduate deserves to be challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study, and for employment in a global economy;
Whereas according to the most recently published information from the Condition of Education on the availability of advanced courses in United States high schools, more than 25 percent of students do not have access to a single advanced course in mathematics, English, science, or foreign language in their high school;
Whereas another student drops out every nine seconds in the United States; Whereas the objective of the ASCD whole child approach to education ensures that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged: and Whereas March would be an appropriate month to designate as "National Whole Child Month:"
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the House of Representatives:
- supports the designation of "National Whole Child Month;"
- recognizes that ensuring that all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged is a national priority;
- and encourages parents, educators, and community members to support and provide a whole child approach to education for each student. Send a letter to your representative!
- Read the press release on ASCD's 2010 Legislative Agenda and ESEA reauthorization.
- Read the press release on the Whole Child Senate Resolution.