When children return to learning this fall (whether in-person, virtually, or a mix of both), many will bring with them the effects of trauma, most will have fallen behind academically, and an increased number may drop out. This pandemic, like so many other disasters, has disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities. To avoid further exacerbating the deep inequities in our education system, we must prepare to address the needs of students when they return to school.
Our Back-to-School Blueprint is an interactive series of research-based, online action guides to help schools prepare to support students this school year. The Blueprint aims to help schools implement practices that will not only address the pressing issues facing our students right now, but also become building blocks for a more supportive, equitable, and high-performing system in general. Each guide includes a series of priority practices for educators to keep in mind as they plan for the future along with a list of action steps to implement the practice. They also include research, videos, and other key resources educators can use.