The William S. Hart Union High School District (Hart District) has been awarded the National Empowered Seal for its commitment to whole-child education by EVERFI, an organization measuring school infrastructure across the country.

The EVERFI Empowered Seal, awarded to less than 6 percent of North American school districts, is an honor awarded to K-12 districts and individual schools that have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to whole-child education through the use of EVERFI’s comprehensive, evidence-informed digital programs.

“We are honored to be part of the 6 percent of districts across the nation to earn the EVERFI Empowered District designation,” said Dave LeBarron, director of Curriculum and Assessment for the Hart School District. “Our teachers are dedicated to addressing both the academic and social needs of their students because they know that it not only impacts how healthy and productive students are now, but also their well-being and success far beyond the high school years.”

The pandemic has cast a bright light on inequalities embedded within America’s education system that have manifested in many ways: from the lack of equal access to broadband to vast disparities in school funding, according to EVERFI CEO Tom Davidson. 

“This gaping hole is society’s missing learning layer,” Davidson said. “Our schools and teachers are doing the Herculean work of educating children, feeding children, and advocating for children. However, in order to fully prepare students for an ever-changing future, parents and teachers are left to harvest the far corners of the Internet for guidance and answers. To build this missing layer of education—one that’s been absent for decades—schools will need the resources to extend learning beyond the current core curriculum.”

The Hart District is one of 6 percent of North American school districts that have exceeded educational infrastructure in accordance with EVERFI’s criterion. 

EVERFI’s programs advocate the importance of financial literacy, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, inclusion and college and career readiness- all standards that the Hart District has adequately met, according to EVERFI officials.

“Educating the whole child not only impacts how healthy, engaged and productive students are during school but also their well-being and success far beyond their K-12 years,” read a statement from EVERFI officials.

To learn more about EVERFI and how they are cultivating a more regulated educational infrastructure, click here.

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