Research Partnership Opportunity

Building Developmental Relationships for Students with Learning Differences 

Educators and school administrators agree that Developmental Relationships among students and educators are important. But how do Developmental Relationships impact young people with learning differences – individuals who are more likely to experience mental health problems and greater relational challenges with parents, teachers, and peers?

High Schools Wanted:

We are looking for 2 high schools to participate in this research partnership opportunity. Each partnering school will be engaged directly for the next 2 years. During the partnership, the schools will:

• Collaborate with Search Institute in interpreting findings, and receive summaries of data that can offer new insight on how your school can more effectively build developmental relationships for students with learning differences.
• Use co-designed, tested tools and strategies to engage educators and parenting adults in building developmental relationships with students with learning differences.

Focus of the partnership:

Building Developmental Relationships for Students with Learning Differences will study relational patterns among students with learning differences. This process is designed to:

• Adapt the Developmental Relationships Framework to the specific needs of culturally diverse students with learning differences.
• Support school teams in understanding the state of developmental relationships for all students with a particular emphasis on students with learning differences.
• Develop, test, and improve tools and strategies to support adults in building the web of developmental relationships that supports social-emotional learning and development for students with learning differences.