Rethink Learning Blog

It is clear that health factors play a role in learning. Even adults have challenges being productive and alert when they aren’t feeling well, so it’s no surprise that children have the same challenges when they are in school.

Earlier this week, a study was released that states the importance of coordinating efforts to address health disparities that can hamper learning. Charles E. Basch, the author of the study, says “At the national level, we’re on the verge of investing billions in our educational system, and the return on those investments is going to be jeopardized unless these health issues are addressed in a much more cogent way.”

I couldn’t agree more and would take it a step further: we must address health factors as well as the other external factors children face.

I am happy to see the President’s proposed investment in Promise Neighborhoods and the Secretary’s enthusiasm for community schools as an approach for school improvement. I want to see more.