Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Compact to Educate the Whole Child

In spring 2007, ASCD published a "New Compact" to Educate the Whole Child.  The compact offers a vision for education reform that embraces all the factors that influence children's lives and development. 

The compact, based on a report from ASCD's Commission on the Whole Child, recommends that local, state, and federal policymakers recognize that academic achievement is crucial but that it cannot happen without significant emphasis on student health, the school environment, student engagement, personalized learning, skilled and caring educators, and outcomes beyond formal schooling.

The compact has five components:

• Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle. This includes healthy menus at school, regular recess, physical and health education, school counseling, and intramural programs.
  
• Each student learns in an intellectually challenging environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.
  
• Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and broader community.
  
• Each student has access to personalized learning and to qualified, caring adults.
  
• Each graduate is prepared for success in college or further study and for employment in a global environment. Students engage in a broad spectrum of activities in and out of the classroom.

ASCD is calling on educators, communities, and policymakers to work together to fulfill the new compact for the education of the whole child.

Successful implementation of these policies results in successful 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. 

ASCD is calling upon policymaking bodies from local school boards through the United States Congress to embrace and implement these goals to ensure we, as a society, meet our new compact with today's students and tomorrow's leaders.

Useful resources:

ASCD's Whole Child Website - Grade your school, find resources, share your story, visit the policy blackboard, and spread the word.

The New Compact Poster [pdf]