As students return to classrooms this fall, schools have the opportunity to reset, refocus, and reimagine how they support every learner. “Prioritizing Student Wellness through the Whole Child Approach”, authored by PCG’s Will Gordillo and Jillian Haring, highlights the Whole Child Approach as a proven framework to improve engagement, behavior, attendance and academic outcomes.

“A whole child approach fosters an environment where every student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged,” said Will Gordillo, Education Senior Advisor. “And when paired with the right technology, it turns those ideals into daily data-informed action so that students aren’t just surviving in school but thriving in it.”

Students perform best when all facets of their well-being are supported equally. The Whole Child Approach builds on foundational theories like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which emphasizes that basic needs—such as safety and belonging—must be met before higher goals like self-esteem and self-actualization. In education, the approach aims to cater to the comprehensive needs of students, including their social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and academic development.
Recognizing that children come from diverse backgrounds and have unique needs, the Whole Child Approach provides a framework for schools to deliver the resources and supports necessary for every student to flourish. By engaging students through the whole child lens, schools can redefine success beyond text scores, fostering academic achievement, emotional resilience, and an inclusive environment.

To learn more about the Whole Child Approach framework, read “Prioritizing Student Wellness through the Whole Child Approach.”