New Reports: Strengthening Coherence Across Initiatives

Thanks to support and partnership from the Stuart Foundation and contributions from district representatives, education agencies, and educators like you across the state, we’re excited to share our latest report: “Strengthening Coherence Across Initiatives: A Whole-Child Lens.” The report includes a TK-12 Edition and a Secondary Edition.  

Read the TK-12 Report
See the TK-12 Executive Summary

A Whole-Child Lens

The number of initiatives across California seems to be multiplying. Teachers are asked to implement many different, but similar, projects and programs. School leaders are struggling to get their staff excited about these new requests while districts weigh the costs and benefits of making one more ask for one more initiative. This report is our collective sigh of relief. It offers a fresh perspective on aligning these initiatives through a whole-child lens, showcasing:

• The shared core of strategies across various initiatives,
• How these align with whole-child design and the science of learning and development,
• Insights from peers on strengthening coherence, and
• Tips on effective communication and collaboration around these shared goals.

A Call to Action for Education Leaders

“Strengthening Coherence Across Initiatives” is also a call to action for policymakers and leaders, with an eye toward systemic change. With insights into how initiatives like College and Career Pathways, Community Schools, Dual Enrollment, Expanded Learning, MTSS, PBIS, and SEL can be viewed through a holistic lens, this report aims to spark conversations and inspire actions that bring us closer to a unified approach to education in California. Ultimately, the goal for each of these initiatives is to create positive, equitable learning experiences in which every young person can learn and grow.

This project is not about putting one idea above another, creating technical checklists, or comparing initiatives point by point. It is about finding the threads that tie our work together, aligning our efforts around a whole-child purpose that supports all students to thrive, and building on the incredible work already happening across the state.

With the release of this report, we’re inviting you into a conversation about how we can all seize this potent moment and contribute to a more coherent, focused, and joyful way of supporting our students. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to California’s students and for being an essential part of this collaborative effort.

Interested in partnering with the Center to create better coherence across your county, district, or school? Reach out to us at WholeChildASU.edu.