Teaching high school students social and emotional skills for success
In partnership with parents and guardians, Battle Ground Public Schools is committed to creating a safe and caring environment for students. This includes their social and emotional well-being. Input from students, parents/guardians and staff members has pointed to the need for schools to teach kindness and respect.
To support this learning at the high school level, the district planned to implement the Wayfinder curriculum using funds from a grant that the district received in 2023. However, due to conflicts between state law and federal requirements that would prevent the district from complying with both, the district decided in 2026 to decline any future grant funds. Past grant funds do not need to be returned.
The district was able to use other, non-grant federal funds to purchase a limited version of the Wayfinder program to use in small groups for one year. Continued use of the curriculum in future school years is contingent on available funding.
Timeline
October 2023: BGPS receives a federal grant to support mental health services and behavioral health education. That grant will fund the purchase of materials for social and emotional learning, among other items and services.
August 2024: Board of directors approves requests for proposals related to high school social and emotional learning curricula and screening tools.
September 2024-December 2024: Project AWARE team reviews proposals and selects the finalists to pilot.
January–March 2025: Final two potential high school curricula, Wayfinder and School Connect, are piloted in select classrooms. Parents and guardians of students in these classes were notified in advance.
February–March 2025: Overview of potential curricula for instructional staff members not participating in pilot programs.
May 2025: Community review nights for all parents, guardians, staff, students and community members to review materials and ask questions.
May 30, 2025: Committee selects a finalist curriculum, Wayfinder, for board consideration.
June 2025: Opportunities for parents, guardians, staff, students and community members to review Wayfinder lessons and teaching materials.
July 28, 2025: School board hears first reading of proposed curricula during its regular meeting.
Aug. 11, 2025: School board pauses the second reading/approval vote of proposed curricula during its regular meeting.
Sept. 22, 2025: School board votes to approve Wayfinder curricula during its regular meeting. Watch the recording.
2025-26 school year: Scheduled start of Wayfinder implementation.
January 2026: District declines future Project AWARE funds due to conflicting state laws and federal requirements and pauses widespread high school curriculum implementation. The district was able to use other, non-grant federal funds to purchase a limited version of the Wayfinder program to use in small groups for one year. Continued use of the curriculum in future school years is contingent on available funding.