2The Six Principles of Whole Schooling WE NEED NEW VISIONS OF SCHOOLING to promote effective learning and a

just society. The Whole Schooling Consortium links individuals and schools in work to build schools and classrooms based on SIX PRINCIPLES of Whole Schooling.: q Empowering citizens in a democracy. The purpose of schooling should not be a test score but to help children become active, effective citizens for democracy. This means that sharing of power and decision-making is an integral part of the culture of a school at all levels – among staff, partnerships with parents and the community, and within classrooms. q Including all. For a democracy to function, by definition, all children must be there. For students to learn well, to be prepared to function in a diverse society, they must be exposed to people with diverse characteristics. Thus, we seek schools in which All children learn together across culture, ethnicity, language, ability, gender, & age, where separate pull-out programs and ability grouping in the classroom are used seldom if at all. q Authentic, multi-level teaching. For such schooling to work instruction cannot be monolithic and traditional one size fits all. Rather, we expect students to function at a range of ability levels, each being supported and encouraged to move to their next level of competence, yet without ability grouping or segregation. In such schools teachers design instruction for diverse learners that engages them in active learning in meaningful, real-world activities at multiple levels of ability, providing scaffolds and adaptations as needed