Caring to Try: How Building Students’ Developmental Assets Can Promote School Engagement and Success

Abstract

Both a sense of belonging and a belief in their own competency seem to be missing from the school experiences of disengaged, underachieving students. Building students’ developmental assets is a promising practice for reconnecting students and supporting achievement. Looking at schools through an assets lens can promote concrete changes in school organization, curriculum and instruction, cocurricular programs, support services, and community partnerships that make the whole environment more conducive to great teaching and learning.