This article is sponsored by The Edge (powered by Ascend Now).
The world is changing rapidly, and schools are scrambling to keep pace. They are stretching their staff, resources and dollars to provide what students need.
Students are also managing heavy loads – and not just reading and math. Many are dealing with non-academic issues, stress, or some form of anxiety.
Social-emotional learning was supposed to address these non-academic skills, but existing resources and methods have, regrettably, fallen short. There is a need for high-quality SEL tools that teach relevant, character-strengthening skills and set students up for lifelong success.
In a February 2025 EdWeek Research Center survey, 82% of teachers say students’ ability to be independent (by directing their own learning and advocating for themselves) is lower than 10 years ago.
As a result, young people are reaching the workforce without the life skills they need for success, including the ability to hear criticism, focus their attention, and exercise responsibility.
We expect teachers, the first responders to educational issues, to ensure our young learners and future leaders know core academic subjects like reading, math, science, and history.
But they are also coaching, mentoring, and trying to teach life and career readiness skills – subjects like confidence, self-awareness, coping with success and failure, active listening, conflict resolution, networking, and more.
The Edge for SEL success
Educators, entrepreneurs, creators and technologists banded together to create The Edge, an innovative, research-driven platform from Ascend Now that equips middle and high school students with essential SEL and life readiness skills.
The comprehensive, flexible, high-quality curriculum aligns with global educational standards and covers 24 key skills across 115 adaptable modules. The platform integrates bite-sized lessons with project-based learning. Among other topics, it covers entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital literacy to prepare students for success in an increasingly complex world.
The Edge was designed to channel teenagers’ emotional energy – excitement, stress, anxiety, passion, or a desire to create or do – into developing the life skills every young person needs to succeed when employed.
Middle and high school teachers can use the platform as is – there’s no need to find content to go with it – and with almost no advance prep. It empowers teachers to easily coach, mentor, and help young people understand themselves, how they relate to others, and the essential human and life skills that will prepare them for continuing education, work, or entrepreneurship.
Half a million students have seen positive growth using The Edge, with an average student engagement score of 88% and a 92% average score for content relevance and importance.
The Edge is more than just SEL or career and technical education. It uses creative storytelling, case studies, activities, videos, and lessons to teach students “me” or “we” skills. It teaches young people how to understand themselves and relate to others, among other essential human and life skills.
It empowers students to be:
- Resilient learners
- Curious problem-solvers
- Community advocates
- Good teammates
- Self-aware active citizens
Could you use a new game plan to empower teachers and help students acquire essential life skills? Download The Edge’s free Ultimate Game Plan!