Learning Resources Launched to Help Decrease Chronic Absenteeism, Improve Youth Mental Health, and Strengthen Academic Achievement
San Diego, CA (September 20, 2024) – Harmony Academy at National University – recognized as one of the country’s largest providers of social and emotional learning curriculum – is redefining education by meeting the unique needs of both educators and K–12 students through a holistic learning approach. Harmony Academy has launched a two-pronged effort to decrease student chronic absenteeism and improve the well-being and academic achievement of young learners by providing tools to the adults who shape a student’s ability to learn, which help impact these critical issues facing America’s schools.
Harmony Academy Associate Vice President of Whole Human Education & Research Dr. Nick Yoder and the program’s Education Advisory Group, comprising nationally recognized teachers from around the country, kicked off the 2024-2025 school year by launching new resources and approaches to help students inside and outside of the classroom: A new teacher certification program to help with chronic absenteeism and a virtual toolkit for parents and caregivers, “Key Steps for Families to Have a Successful School Year.”
Families play a critical role in student success – and the first weeks of school offer a critical opportunity to set the stage. The Harmony Academy Educational Advisory Group developed this impactful resource, which was published on Harmony’s website. It includes educators sharing a video and print package of expert advice, encouragement, and practical tips to help families make this a productive and happy school year.
Several Advisory Group members share on the Harmony Academy website how they leveraged their experience in the classroom to cultivate tips for families. For example, language arts teacher Claudia James said that her tip, “Encourage Your Child to Value Themself,” is resonating among her almost six million social media followers, who are thinking about how back-to-school activities like essays about how summer break can be isolating or embarrassing for kids who haven’t had a stereotypical few months of camp, swimming, and vacations.
Yoder also announced a teacher certification program that can help address chronic absenteeism, which will launch in an initial partnership with the Clark County School District in Nevada. It will train teachers in strategies that keep students coming back to the classroom and focused on learning by creating a sense of belonging, building healthy relationships, and engaging students.
Here is a preview of available materials located in the virtual toolkit:
- You’ve Got This! Video Messages from Educators to Families
- Practical Tips: Six Ways to Help Your Child Thrive This School Year
- Mindful Minutes: Activities to Stay Calm, Grounded, and Connected to Each Other
- Response Prompts: Simple Phrases to Get Your Child to Communicate More
- Crisis in the Classroom Snapshot
About Harmony Academy
For more than a decade, Harmony Academy has been a leader in social and emotional learning. We offer dynamic solutions for teachers, families, and communities that are research-backed and grounded in rigorous evaluation. Today, Harmony is transforming the lives of more than 22 million students in 57,000 schools and organizations across 50 states and 88 countries.
About National University
National University, a veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of nontraditional, working, and military students by providing accessible, affordable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, NU offers 190+ online and on-campus programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in cybersecurity, with flexible four-week and eight-week classes and one-to-one graduate education models designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to 130,000 learners served per year—50,000 degree-seeking students and 80,000 workforce and professional development students—and 240,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. Additionally, NU is recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency. To learn more about National University’s new possibilities in education including next-generation education, value-rich education, and whole human education, visit NU.edu.