WELCOME to Whole Schooling!!

Promoting excellence and equity for a democratic society.

The Whole Schooling Consortium is an international network of schools and individual teachers, parents, administrators, university faculty and community members. We are concerned with the following central problems that deepen our social and individual problems: segregation of children based on ability, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and other characteristics; standardization and narrowing of curricula, stifling creativity, critical thinking, and democratic engagement; narrowly focused standardized assessment that centers schooling around the taking of a test rather than learning and creates competition and rivalry across schools;punishment of schools and educators rather than providing help, support and assistance; consequent creation of school cultures of tension, anger, and pressure preventing what should be a place of joy, fun, community, and care; and lack of attention to economic and social needs of children.

Schools, we believe, are central if we are to have a democratic society and inclusive communities where people of difference are valued and celebrated. Schools must be places that encourage the development of the whole child – linking talent development and social, emotional, cognitive, and physical learning. We believe this is necessary and possible.

Our Vision

In Whole Schools, children of substantial differences learn well together – students with mild to severe disabilities, gifted and talented, many cultures and ethnic groups. Teachers teach students using authentic learning that is connected to their lives, local communities, and social issues. Students learn with materials at their own level of challenge while working on interesting projects involving heterogeneous groupings of students. Teachers work hard to build a sense of community, teaching children to care. When students have emotional difficulties staff pull together to form a circle of support around the child. Finally, partnership and democratic decision-making are fundamental at all levels of school life – from school-wide decisions to daily practice in the classroom. Whole Schools form a culture where all children achieve at their highest levels and where they learn and practice a socially responsible, democratic, and inclusive form of community they will carry valuably into their adult lives. We have begun to develop online VIDEO clips that show how our vision looks in concrete reality. Click HERE for a paper that describes key problems for schools and the Six Principles of Whole Schooling as they look in schools: Creating Schools That Work: Promoting excellence and equity for a democratic society through Whole Schooling.

Our Mission

The mission of the Whole Schooling Consortium is to help create such schools that are based on the Six Principles of Whole Schooling. We do this by creating initiatives and projects, conducting research, engaging in policy advocacy, and by creating Local Whole Schooling Consortia of individuals and schools committed to this vision of schooling. The Six Principles of Whole Schooling provide a powerful, yet simple, framework to work towards education that links equity and excellence.

1. Empowering citizens in a democracy.
2. Including all.
3. Providing authentic, multi-level instruction.
4. Building community
5. Supporting learning.
6. Partnering with families and the community.

On this website, we provide information about these Six Principles, how they are used in school renewal, and ways you can be involved as an individual or through your school. Click HERE for a flyer for the Whole Schooling Consortium that you can print and distribute.

WE INVITE YOU to join in this work.

You can make a difference! Your school can benefit through using Whole Schooling as a framework for school renewal. You can join and participate in an international network of terrific people and schools! We are growing the Consortium through the collaborative, grassroots efforts of teachers, parents, faculty, administrators, and community members. If you are interested in being involved, explore possibilities on this website and contact us/ There are many options.

Contact us at: Wholeschooling@comcast.net