WHEREAS, the American Federation of School Administrators has joined with other leading education groups to form the Coalition to Support Grieving Students; and
WHEREAS, coalition members have developed educational materials for the use of educators, parents and community members to deal with all areas of grief and loss; and
WHEREAS, the coalition has set up guidelines on how to respond to the death of a student or staff member; and
WHEREAS, coalition partners have widely distributed these guidelines to their respective memberships; and
WHEREAS, it is apparent that school districts and college and university schools of education across our nation would benefit from including these guidelines and materials into teacher and administrative training curriculums; and
WHEREAS, sadly today only 3 percent of school districts and college and university schools of education now include training in the area of grief and loss;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Federation of School Administrators strongly urge our members to inform and educate their local school district leaders and local college and university schools of education faculties of the need to include grief and loss curriculum for all employees, and in teacher and administrator preparation courses, and to take advantage of the resources available on the coalition website: www.grievingstudents.org.