BCPS believes the elementary learning environment empowers a child to take an active role in their experiences and inspires them to achieve their personal best. By providing developmentally appropriate experiences, a child builds on their social, emotional, and physical well-being, preparing them for life readiness.

Our philosophy is supported by five guiding principles:

1. High-quality, standards-based instruction focuses on the whole child, using a balanced approach through playful, child-centered, developmentally appropriate practices.
   
   
2. Learning Support is guided by data and students' needs to provide high-quality instruction and social-emotional support for all students.  Decisions about changes in the environment or instruction, based on student response, result in each student reaching his or her highest potential.
   
   
3. Children are provided an engaging learning environment structured to support the development of critical thinkers who assume responsibility for ownership of their learning.
    
4. Learning experiences are personalized according to each student’s strengths, needs, and interests to provide flexibility and support, ensuring mastery of the standards. This encourages student voice and differentiated pathways to learning in the elementary years.
   
   
5. Students who are life ready possess the growth mindset that empowers them to approach their future with confidence, persevere to achieve their goals, and evolve with an ever-changing, interconnected global community.

Parents of Elementary School Students (Grades PK-5) should access the Supporting Young Learners website at http://bit.ly/SupportingYoungLearners. You will find guidance and resources related to English Language Arts/Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Social Emotional Learning to help ensure your child continues to be successful in school.