This piece from ASCD “The Whole Child” feed is worth a read:

The Whole Child Podcast « Whole Child Education.

The thing that impresses me the most is the attention to a key belief that I also hold.  They accurately reflect on the complexity of the education experience and how this is especially true for the middle grades where “young people are grappling to figure out who they are.”

Altogether an inspired look at a wholistic and viable approach.

UPDATE:
Here’s the policy brief that supports this work:

http://www.nmsa.org/portals/0/pdf/research/Research_from_the_Field/Policy_Brief_Balfanz.pdf