Education Matters

Each high school graduate in the United States means a net economic benefit to society of $127,000.

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In Case You Missed It

The year 2009 has already proven to be big for the Whole Child Initiative, and we are confident there is much more in store. Below is a roundup of some exciting progress in the field and action on the website. Stay informed, get inspired, and take action on behalf of the whole child!

In recent news:

• The Whole Child Resolution is gaining momentum! Arkansas passed House Resolution 1013, becoming the first state to pass a resolution supporting the Whole Child Initiative. Several school districts have also passed whole child resolutions, including Virginia's Pulaski County School Board.
• We are proud to join forces with the National Association for Gifted Children to further the Whole Child Initiative. We now have 35 organizations that have signed on as whole child partners.
• Chip Wood, co-founder of Responsive Classrooms and author of Yardsticks (one of our favorite whole child resources), rated the Whole Child Blog among his favorite blogs.
• South Carolina ASCD and several ASCD Student Chapters in the state, including Benedict College, Charleston Southern University, and Newberry College, have hosted Whole Child Community Conversations, with several more to come. If you're in South Carolina and would like to participate in a community conversation with preservice teachers and members of the education community, please contact South Carolina ASCD Executive Director Phyllis Pendarvis for more information.

Did you know?

• More than 1,500 people have signed the Whole Child Petition in just a few short weeks. Help your state reach the goal of 1,000 signatures by signing it and forwarding it to friends.
• The Whole Child Blog has new content! Whether you're an educator, parent, or community member, something is there for you. Stay informed by subscribing to the RSS feed.
• The Whole Child Podcast also has an RSS feed. Subscribe using Google Reader, Bloglines, or another news feed reader, and you'll receive an update each time a new episode is added.
• The Grade Your School and Community tool now offers personalized responses to your answers. That means feedback, resources, and next steps you can use to move your community to action.

» Expect More. Get More.

Real Stories

"During my 31 years as a high school English teacher, the most successful activity that I have used to engage students is sustained silent reading (SSR). While I've seen hundreds of success stories from using SSR with students, Josh, a junior who came into class convinced he could not and would not read, provides a good example of the benefits from the program. I had him talk with our school librarians who are strong supporters of the SSR program. They helped him find a book and he started reading during at least parts of the SSR time. He focused on the reading more as the weeks went by, and one day he commented, 'I can't believe how fast this hour goes by. We read and do our lesson and the hour is over. None of my other classes seem this fast.'"

» Read more on the Whole Child Blog about how Steven Gardiner uses SSR to engage high school students.

“We must build upon what works and stop doing what doesn't work. We have to continue to challenge the status quo.”

—U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in the opening statement of his confirmation hearing, where he asserted his belief that all students can be successful but that leaders must act with urgency to ensure them a quality education and the opportunity to succeed

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