The Change Our Schools Are Begging For: Why GRiT Is Leading the Shift

In a recent article by The Hill, Frederick Hess boldly stated what many educators and students have been feeling for years: our schools need more than minor tweaks, they need transformation.

He writes, “The education system isn’t working for far too many students, educators or families. And yet, time and again, efforts to fix it focus on doubling down on what’s familiar—mandates, programs, and slogans that feel safe but solve nothing.”

At GRiT, we couldn’t agree more. And we believe that transformation starts at the identity level, with a new mindset entirely.

What Students Are Really Missing

It’s not that students can’t learn. It’s that they’re being asked to engage in learning before they’re equipped with the tools to regulate themselves, communicate clearly, or even identify what they’re feeling.

We’ve asked students to succeed in teams before they know how to understand or respect another person’s voice. We’ve asked them to show up to class focused and driven, without ever teaching them how to manage stress, navigate emotions, or self-motivate. We’ve created behavior systems but neglected brain state regulation. And the result is what Hess describes: more burnout, more frustration, more disengagement.

The Rewire We Actually Need

GRiT isn’t reform. It’s identity-first education.

It’s neuroscience-backed, grounded in relational intelligence, and built to prepare students, not just for college or career, but for life. We help students understand how their brains work under pressure, how to name what they’re feeling, and how to lead themselves and others with clarity, empathy, and ownership.

Students who complete GRiT report:

• 15% increase in emotional regulation
• Nearly 60% reduction in behavior referrals
  Improved attendance, mental health, and overall mindset growth

But the magic isn’t in the stats. It’s in the stories. Stories of students who used to shut down and are now leading. Of shy students finding their voice. Of peers stepping in for each other instead of tearing each other down.

This Isn’t Reform. It’s Rewiring.

As The Hill makes clear, it’s not enough to keep looping through familiar solutions. We must be willing to step back and ask: What kind of people are we actually developing? And what internal tools will they carry into the world beyond school?

At GRiT, we believe those answers start with resilience, emotional intelligence, and real relational skill, things that have been overlooked for too long, but are now impossible to ignore.

This isn’t about adding more.
It’s about doing what matters.

Because until we teach students to lead themselves, we’re just rearranging the pieces.

Want to see what this looks like in action?
👉 Download the GRiT White Paper
👉 Bring GRiT to your school