Program Standard: The program promotes

positive relationships among all children and adults to encourage each child’s sense of indi-vidual worth and belonging as part of a commu-nity and to foster each child’s ability to contrib-ute as a responsible community member. Rationale: Positive relationships are essential for the development of personal responsibility, capacity for self-regulation, for constructive interactions with others, and for fostering aca-demic functioning and mastery. Warm, sensi-tive, and responsive interactions help children develop a secure, positive sense of self and encourage them to respect and cooperate with others. Positive relationships also help children gain the benefits of instructional experiences and resources. Children who see themselves as highly valued are more likely to feel secure, thrive physically, get along with others, learn well, and feel part of a community. 2. Curriculu