After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

1. Identify the most pressing social context issues challenging students and educators in today’s schools.
2. Analyze how curricula used in your state or school district is influenced (or not influenced) by the social context of the communities in which the school is located and local, state, and/or national politics.
3. Compare approaches for supporting students who are struggling with social and emotional issues in their lives.