The United States of America is at a critical phase in its history because of the unique challenges facing the public education system today. Educational factors include increasing achievement gaps between students of race and economics, over-reliance of standardized tests, problems with recruitment and retention of effective teachers, limited professional training and support for teachers, principals, and central office staff, and high drop out rates. Psychosocial factors include student violence, teen pregnancy, family difficulties, limited family support for educational achievement, and issues related to socioeconomic status.

These problems interfere with optimal academic performance. What would happen if we could take a different approach to mitigate the impact of these problems, by strengthening the family? What would happen if students could articulate to their teachers their needs? What would happen if teachers could inspire their students to learn within the context of their obstacles? What would happen if teachers had all the tools (i.e., educational policy, resources, and training) needed to help them be most effective? What would happen if…