A sense of connectedness. Many students feel
alienated and do not have a sense of belonging
to their community, neighborhood, or school. To
be successful in school, students must feel that
they “belong” and perceive the work of school
as having great value. Connectedness also means
that students have good relationships with adults
in the school, the home, and the neighborhood.
These adults can be advocates for students as
they face barriers and problems in and out of
school.