The last three school years have been full of disruptions in our nation’s schools. While school leaders, educators, and families continue to navigate challenges, a deeper conversation has been unfolding about how children learn and the foundational, developmental elements that are required for learning. When students were learning remotely, it became clearer that socialization with peers and in-person access to teachers are critical for learning. When students and staff navigated trauma related to the losses of the pandemic or the social climate, it became clearer that our students’ emotional state impacts their learning. One vice principal from Charles County Public Schools in Maryland told us, “So much has transpired in the world that we have to be proactive and address the needs.”
