Focus on Children

AASA supports strong school system leadership to improve the lives of children as an aspect of the Stand Up for Public Education™ campaign and the overall mission of the Association.

AASA has championed efforts to improve the school climate on various issues that directly affect children in public schools by working directly with local school district leaders, state affiliate directors, and other strategic partners across sectors.

AASA's current projects are on asthma management, healthy school environments, youth development and healthy eating and active living, with a major emphasis on disparities or gaps in well-being among children from low-income families. All children everywhere can be successful within and outside of the school walls.

AASA receives funding from foundations, the government and other organizations that share our passion, commitment and vision towards the betterment of school districts nationwide. AASA's work to improve children's health in schools reiterates AASA's dedication to improving the overall quality of life for every child.

Current Projects

Getting Children Ready for School
• Asthma Leadership Project - Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control/Division of Adolescent and School Health, AASA works with members to build their capacity to effect change in school districts on the topic of asthma.

Getting Schools Ready for Children
• Healthy School Environments - Through funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, AASA supports the work of urban, rural and suburban districts to improve indoor air quality through changes in policy and practice.

• Leadership for Healthy Communities - Through funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AASA works with local school district leaders and our state affiliates to encourage action around healthy eating and active living in schools and the greater community.

Getting Children Ready for Democracy
• Beyond High School - Through funding from the Forum for Youth Investment, AASA works with school-government-community leadership teams to create community compacts that identify strategies, programs and policies that provide supports for young people to succeed in school and beyond.

What's New?
See Paul Houston discuss the changing roles of superintendents and how the Ready by 21™ framework can help school leaders move towards a more collaborative approach. His presentation was part of the partner panel discussion at the national launch of the Ready by 21 Partnership in Washington, D.C. (05/08/2008)
	(NEW!) AASA Spring Virtual Seminar: Healthy Schools Foster Effective Learning Environments - Did you miss the April 23, 2008 presentation by IAQ expert Dr. Richard Shaughnessy? CLICK HERE to view a slide show and audio recording of the research he shared which correlates indoor air quality with student academic achievement.
AASA Wellness Action Checklist- Providing a healthy school environment that encourages learning is a priority for school leaders. AASA has created a short checklist that focuses on the prominent wellness issues affecting schools and provides action steps leaders can take to ensure a healthy academic environment. Download the checklist to begin making your schools healthier.
Share Your Success – AASA is now collecting school district success stories on a variety of topics, including asthma, childhood obesity, and indoor air quality. Read more and submit your success today!
Green Schools - Building ‘green schools’ is a new movement in creating healthy learning environments for students. AASA has compiled resources to help answer questions you might have about this phenomenon.
Healthcare for All Students - AASA commends member Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra and the Houston Independent School District for its leadership and partnership with the Children's Defense Fund - Texas' 100% Campaign, which works to ensure every school-aged child in Houston is linked to affordable healthcare. The program provides targeted school-based outreach to reach the 40% of uninsured Houston children in order to obtain proper healthcare. Click here for more information about this best practice, or visit this website to get involved in local activities.
AASA supports strong school system leadership to improve the lives of children as an essential element of our mission. This is broadly accomplished through a lens of getting children ready for schools, getting schools ready for children and preparing children to be productive citizens in a democracy. AASA awards mini-grants and scholarships to superintendents, state affiliates and local district communities to enhance and support a view of child well-being that encompasses health, social and academic outcomes. Find out which organizations were awarded mini-grants and scholarships from AASA in the past year.