Whole Child What Have We Learned So Far: The Whole Child Approach and the Pandemic
Kathleen Briseno
Megan Willson
Current Context We begin this article considering the context, directives, and varied experiences of students and educators by reviewing data relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic and align them to the Whole Child tenets. The Illinois Department of Public Health Guidance for Covid-19 referenced the results from a study reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) published on June 29, 2021. Their study covers the timeframe from September 2020 to April 2021, and found that, “The majority of students need full-time in-person access to their teachers and support network at school to stay engaged, to learn effectively, and to maintain social-emotional wellness” (Executive Summary, para. 2). Their study also suggests that remote learning can be challenging for students, which may lead not only to learning loss, but also to mental health issues. Similarly, the Illinois State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Carmen I. Ayala (2021), provided a statement regarding the importance of inperson learning, “The Illinois State Board of Education recognizes and affirms the fundamental importance of in24
