The ASCD Whole Child Approach to Education

Connect the dots to your students' success.

What is the Whole Child Approach?

Promote Long-Term Development and Success

ASCD's Whole Child approach transitions from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of all children.

Support for Schools and Communities

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.

Learn more about ASCD's Whole Child Approach

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The Five Tenets

Change the conversation about education in your school and community. Move beyond a definition of success measured only by academic achievement. Examine how well your school is serving students through the whole child tenets.

Healthy

Enter schools healthy and learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle.

Safe

Learn in a physically and emotionally safe environment for students and adults.

Engaged

Actively engage in learning and connect to the school and broader community.

Supported

Access personalized learning and be supported by qualified, caring adults.

Challenged

Be challenged academically for career pursuits to be critical thinkers in a global environment.

Resources for the Whole Child

ASCD Whole Child School Improvement Tool™

ASCD's online needs assessment tool is based on the ASCD Whole Child approach to education. Receive a report that details results highlighting key areas where your school is doing well and other areas that need additional support.

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Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model combines and builds on elements of the traditional coordinated school health approach and the Whole Child framework.