Engaging Schools Is Closing

Engaging Schools experienced a significant drop in revenues that began during the pandemic, when many schools were closed for in-person learning. Many districts are still facing severe budget challenges, which are forcing them to make difficult decisions on how to allocate their funds. This situation shows no signs of easing, severely impacting our ability to sustain our long-term financial health and provide the level of support necessary to carry out our mission.

As a result, our board of directors has made the painful decision to sunset the organization. We will wrap up all service delivery in September and close down later in the year.

This decision comes with deep sadness for our community. For 42 years, Engaging Schools has collaborated with educational leaders, teachers, and staff members across the country and around the world to create learning-focused cultures and shape caring, respectful and welcoming climates for all students.

We partnered with colleagues to cultivate a holistic approach anchored in practical research-based strategies to achieve these goals, and in the process gained a broad understanding of how to create engaging and equitable classrooms and schools.

In addition, Engaging Schools helped schools implement a restorative and learning approach for addressing student discipline rather than a punitive approach, and created environments where young people feel supported and safe and, as a result, can thrive.

Although this is disappointing news, there is much to celebrate! By any measure, we have accomplished a great deal in four decades. Along the way, through our partnerships with schools and districts, we have created a deep reservoir of knowledge and materials about  educating and supporting young people by integrating academics with social and emotional learning and development.

We are currently exploring ways for educators to have access to our critical resources so the legacy of Engaging Schools can continue to have a positive impact on schools and districts and, of course, students for years to come. We will post an update later in the summer. Thank you for your interest in and support of Engaging Schools!