The mission of the Total Learning Institute is to develop a birth - 9 Total Learning model that uniquely combines research and best practice to improve educational outcomes for children in public elementary schools.

The Total Learning Institute will develop a model of educational and social support, based upon research findings in the social policy and child development arenas. This approach (Total Learning) is designed to address a critical educational crisis in the US—the persistent achievement gap between students from impoverished backgrounds and those from middle and upper class backgrounds.

The Total Learning collaboration has, as its aim, the development of a comprehensive, "whole child" approach to addressing the achievement gap. At its core, this approach is grounded in the belief that classroom experiences, while a core component of the educational experience, do not exist in a vacuum; in order to effectively learn, children must be supported in other areas of their life. Thus, addressing the achievement gap between children from low-income backgrounds and those from more affluent backgrounds necessitates addressing the needs of their families as well.