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The Next School Reform Frontier

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Congress is now rewriting the federal Elementary and Secondary School Act, known from the Bush administration as No Child Left Behind.

Although the language and plan were promising, as of 2013 half of black 4th graders and 49 percent of Latino 4th graders scored below basic on the National assessment of Educational Progress, known as "the nation's report card."

Students who struggle perpetually often lack social and emotional skills needed to succeed, academically. They interact poorly with teachers and classmates, pay scattered attention and skip school.

We need a new paradigm, urges Hugh Price, senior fellow at Brookings Institution. Developing youngsters' social and emotional skills that research has shown to boost achievement levels and curtail behavioral problems, with support from parents, churches, communities and those responsible for raising children.

Economic benefits have been shown to far exceed the cost. Read this important work.

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