Voices From the Field and Ways to Reduce Barriers to Learning for School Transformation
Scholastic collaborated with CCSSO to develop a questionnaire for a national survey of teachers and principals, in part, to raise awareness of the barriers to equity in education and the resources needed to support students and families. Students facing barriers to learning do not have the opportunity to benefit from instruction. 87% of principals agree that many of their students face barriers from outside of school. As such, principals' top funding priorities are investing in academic or social-emotional intervention programs and student access to wrap-around services. Instruction alone is not a strong enough intervention. Yet the non-instructional services available are often a multitude of disconnected activities. Only an integrated system of supports can address barriers while reducing redundancy and achieving costs savings. A comprehensive framework can organize and deliver supportive services that help educators remove barriers so all students can achieve their potential.