The Universal Skills Project

Less scrolling. More growing. All of US, together.

The US Project gives families and schools one shared language for 36 universal skills: the skills we use every day to know ourselves, connect with others and contribute to the world. What sets the US Project apart is that these skills aren't just for children. They're for all of US, because we grow better when we grow together.

Why it matters

Kids are growing up surrounded by screens, and most grown-ups were never explicitly taught these skills either. The US Project gives everyone the words and the practice, together.

6–9 hrs

a day of entertainment media for tweens and teens, outside school and homework

46%

of teens say a parent is at least sometimes distracted by their phone when they try to talk

23 states

passed new limits on phones in schools in 2025, but evenings at home are untouched

Most adults

were never explicitly taught these skills. Many other countries teach them in an aligned way.

The idea

The 3 C's

36 skills in three areas, each one written as an "I can" statement that a five-year-old and a fifty-year-old can both use.

Me

Character

I Reflect and I Grow

I Reflect (knowing myself)

I Grow (caring for and challenging myself)

Emotional Awareness, Strengths & Challenges, Values & Beliefs, Emotional Regulation, Persistence Through Challenge and more

Us

Connection

I Consider and I Connect

I Consider (understanding others)

I Connect (building relationships)

Others' Feelings, Needs & Wants, Gratitude & What's Going Well, Perspectives & Diversity, Everyday Social Skills, Communication & Relationships and more

The world

Contribution

I Engage and I Contribute

I Engage (curiosity, information and how I engage with the world)

I Contribute (adding my voice, ideas and effort)

Questions & Exploration, Understanding & Evaluating Information, Consuming & Creating, Ideas, Solutions & Design, Communicating to Be Understood and more

Every skill comes in a pair

Each "understanding" skill links to a "doing" skill: first I notice, then I act. It makes the skills easy to teach, easy to remember and easy to practice.

Emotional Awareness→Emotional Regulation
Fairness & Inclusion→Advocacy for Others & Change
Understanding & Evaluating Information→Communicating to Be Understood

What colleagues say about US Project founder Rae Donovan

“Her leadership style is inclusive, empathetic, and deeply relational, grounded in the belief that when we take care of one another, we all thrive.”

Abby Dayton, School Counselor, Ferrisburgh Central School

Find your way in

Tech F.A.S.T. for Schools

A weekly screen-free evening for your whole school community, with Analog Hour in the school day.

Learn more →

Skills at School

Coaching for administrators and counselors to align systems to one skills language and reinforce the skills at home.

Learn more →

Skills at Home

Simple ways for families to practice the skills together, with coaching available.

Learn more →

Meet the founder

Rae Donovan, M.Ed., J.D.

Rae has spent her career helping schools and families grow the skills that matter most.

  • SEL Coordinator, MAUSD (2019–22): led the development of the district's transferable skills and built them into district systems
  • Principal, Ferrisburgh Central School (2022–25): aligned PBIS, MTSS, universal instruction, PLPs, advisory and family connection to one skills language
  • SEL Systems Integration, MAUSD (2025–27): continuing her work integrating skills-based teaching and learning across district systems, with PLPs at the center
  • Tech F.A.S.T.: implemented in three Vermont districts over ten years

"The skills brought us together as a staff, gave us a platform to hold our students to high expectations in both academic and social-emotional learning, and served as a gateway for more meaningfully embracing and connecting with our wider family community."

Trish Van Vliet, Kindergarten Teacher, Ferrisburgh Central School

Let's grow together.

Write to Rae any time, or join the email list for news and updates.