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CI for the Whole Child

Whole Child Lens for District Improvement

MDE definition:
The “whole child” is a unique learner comprised of interacting dimensions, such as cognitive, physical, behavioral, social and emotional. The whole child lives within multiple and interconnected environments including home, school, and community. 

​The Whole Child model combines two successful national models; ASCD's Whole Child Initiative and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’ Coordinated School Health Model.  Please click on the video below explaining the WSCC Model rationale for combining Learning with Health.

whole child

In addition to the video, ASCD has produced a One Page Overview of the Whole Child as a resource for further understanding. Below you will find ASCD's 10 indicators under each of the five tenets:

  1. Healthy Tenet Indicators (sample Healthy info-graphic of key data for a school focused on health)
  2. Safe Tenet Indicators (often perception data for Safe and Healthy, consider both public and local data)
  3. Engaged Tenet Indicators (consider extracurricular activities, student discourse, lessons, etc.)
  4. Supported Tenet Indicators (sample Supported info-graphic of one district's focus on stabilizing staff)
  5. Challenged Tenet Indicators (consider advanced courses, dis-proportionality, and academic outcomes)

Another lens to consider when exploring your data for the key data points include the four data types (demographic, process, academic outcomes, and perception).  The formerly required SDA (or CNA Document) has some guiding questions for each type of data with some guidance for finding publicly available data. Please consider this as a resource only and consider the questions that are most applicable while ignoring the rest.

What story is your data trying to tell you?

The sample info-graphics below show a powerful visualization of a school or district that has narrowed the root cause.

For a more comprehensive district info-graphic, see one district in California during their baseline year, 2014-15 Bear Valley, and then the progress updated, 2017-18 Bear Valley.  Notice the need for more whole child data that might be collected from other sources as shown below.

Are you assessing your Whole Child Needs?

Examples of Non Academic and Systems Whole Child Data (Resources Linked in)

In this presentation you will find overviews of several sources of whole child data that JCISD can help support that can help you develop a very clear picture of what is needed for your students and staff. 

Data sources in the presentation include:

  • Early Warning Indicators (EWI)
  • School Wide Behavior Data
  • Culture Climate Surveys
  • Tiered Fidelity Data
  • Qualitative Data
  • Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY)
  • Healthy School Action Tool HSAT: 
    • School Core Assessment & Feedback Report
    • 7 Topic Area Assessment & Feedback Reports
  • Whole Child Systems Assessment
  • Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS)
  • Relationship Mapping
  • Student Questionnaire; Classroom Management Observation Tools

For more support, information, professional development and resources on the Whole Child, please visit the JCISD Whole Child Website.