Resources

Educators are given the critical and challenging task of creating learning experiences that truly support each child and their holistic development. This process requires us to confront, dismantle and reimagine the systems of education we have inherited that do not yet equitably or effectively serve our students. We also know that this required redesign will only be successful if we leverage the expertise and experience of those closest to the challenge — our educators, leaders, students and communities together.

The Whole-Child Design Blueprint encourages all classrooms, schools and systems to:

1. Start with a shared purpose and commitment to holistic development and equitable outcomes for all students that drives improvement goals and priorities.
2. Co-create a supportive school and classroom environment that is physically, emotionally, and identity safe, while creating a strong sense of community and belonging.
3. Shift to developmental relationships – among teachers, students, leaders, and community – as the foundation.
4. Set students up for success by facilitating rich learning experiences that integrate knowledge, skill and mindset development.
5. Engage in transformational change together through shared leadership and ownership.

The Whole-Child Design Blueprint is meant to be used as a visioning tool—supporting educators to look through the lens of whole-child development and design and take action toward the change they seek. The framework’s components and core practices together make up a way to think about, organize and integrate practices that are aligned with the ways the brain learns and how children develop