Giving Compass' Take:

· The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative recently showed its support for Valor Collegiate Academies and their comprehensive student development model, Compass, with a $1.6 million grant. 

· How does the school environment affect the way students learn? What research is being done into the benefits of personal learning and social-emotional learning? 

· Check out this article to learn more about Valor Collegiate Academies and other leading-edge charter schools.

At the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, we know that helping young people develop the skills and abilities they need to reach their full potential starts with expanding the definition of success beyond academics—to include students’ physical, mental, social, and emotional needs as well. Providing a transformative learning experience tailored to each young person means supporting both teachers and students as whole people.

Through our grantmaking, CZI has been working to expand the  body of scientific research on how people learn and develop, and to equip teachers with these evidence-based practices  to support each student according to their unique learning needs.

To build on these efforts, CZI announced a $1.6 million grant to Valor Collegiate Academies based in Nashville, Tennessee. This innovative school network is showing that social-emotional learning (SEL) and academic success go hand in hand.

The consistently top-ranked school system uses a comprehensive student development model, Compass, which promotes both student and staff social-emotional growth. Compass focuses on building a diverse school community and enhancing the quality of relationships at school to create an optimal environment for learning.

Read the full article about Valor Collegiate Academies at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.